Paul writes to his beloved church in Philippi, where Lydia was the first convert. The letter shows his affection, his happy memories, his sense of their being fellow workers with him in sharing the gospel.
He exhorts them to unity and humility, following the example of Christ. He quotes what was apparently a hymn, celebrating Christ's life, death and resurrection.
At the closing, in our reading today, he seeks the resolution of a conflict between two of his fellow workers in the gospel - Euodia and Syntyche - he wants them to be of the "same mind in the Lord."
Conflict in church? At this early date? Who would believe such?
The reality is we have always had conflict in the church. Circumcised or not-circumcised? Scripture or tradition? Rome or Reformation? African Americans as members? Women in the pulpit or no? Incense or no incense? Gays & lesbians as bishops?
We have to work these conflicts out. Whether or not Jesus intended to form a new church, that's what we have and we have to sort out our conflicts or continue to splinter the church in new ways. How can we put the pieces back together?
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