Counting All as Loss
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Philippians 3:7–11
“But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”
Grace Prayed For
Lord, grant me the grace to release whatever I cling to most — my reputation, my comfort, my achievements — so that I may find in You a treasure that nothing in this world can offer.
Reflection
Paul was no stranger to achievement. He was educated, respected, zealous, and blameless by the law. By any measure, he had built a life worth admiring. And yet, in this passage, he does something radical — he revalues everything. Not from a place of despair or loss, but from a place of having found something infinitely greater.
The Greek word Paul uses for “rubbish” is skybala — strong language, even crude. He is not being politely indifferent to his former life. He is being utterly clear: compared to knowing Christ, nothing else comes close.
This is the heart of Lenten spirituality. Lent is not primarily about giving something up as a spiritual exercise in willpower. It is about discovering what we are actually living for. Every fast, every sacrifice, every moment of quiet prayer during this season is an invitation to ask: what am I counting on that is not Christ?
Paul’s words challenge our quiet attachments — the need to be seen as successful, the comfort of security, the pride of being right. These are not always bad things. But when they quietly displace Christ at the center of our lives, they become the very things that keep us from the freedom Paul describes.
To be “found in him” is Paul’s great desire. Not found in his credentials or his community standing — but found, fully and finally, in Christ. That is the freedom Lent opens before us, if we are willing to loosen our grip.
What in your life are you still counting as gain that God may be inviting you to release?
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post