“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)
“Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
As we journey through this Fourth Week of Lent, the Church calls us deeper into the mystery of detachment and trust in God. The Wednesday of this week, Feria Quarta infra Hebdomadam IV in Quadragesima, invites us to reflect on two complementary passages of Scripture: Philippians 3:7-12 and Luke 12:32-34. St. Paul speaks of abandoning all worldly gains to attain Christ, while Our Lord assures us of the imperishable treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven. These readings, placed in the heart of Lent, challenge us to reexamine what we value and where our hearts truly rest.
The Great Exchange: Counting All as Loss
St. Paul’s words in Philippians are striking: everything that was once “gain” to him—his status, knowledge, and achievements—he now considers “loss” compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This passage resonates profoundly in Lent, a time when we strive to detach from earthly things to deepen our union with God.
St. John Chrysostom explains this passage beautifully:
“For what would a man profit, were he to be honored beyond all others, and be lord of the whole world, yet have no confidence towards God?” (Homily 12 on Philippians)
He reminds us that worldly success, no matter how great, is fleeting when compared to the eternal joy of belonging to Christ. The Apostle Paul does not simply give up material things but renounces even his spiritual credentials under the Old Law, realizing that only in Christ is true righteousness found.
St. Augustine also speaks of this radical transformation in his Confessions, saying:
“Late have I loved Thee, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new! Late have I loved Thee! … Thou didst call and cry aloud, and didst force open my deafness.” (Confessions, Bk. X, Ch. 27)
Like Paul, St. Augustine realized that all his former pursuits were nothing compared to the love of God. True righteousness is not in human efforts but in faith and intimacy with Christ.
The Kingdom that Cannot Be Stolen
The Gospel passage from Luke (12:32-34) complements this theme by calling us to radical trust in God’s providence. Our Lord tells His disciples:
“Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.”
This gentle yet profound assurance speaks to our Lenten journey. We strive to let go of earthly securities not out of mere asceticism but because God desires to give us something infinitely greater. St. Cyprian of Carthage, reflecting on this passage, writes:
“How can we want for anything when we have God as our Father? … He who has made us His children can never forsake us.” (On the Lord’s Prayer, 19)
Thus, Christ calls us to store our treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts. Here, the words of St. Basil the Great guide us:
“Why do you hoard perishable goods? Why do you set your heart on wealth that will pass away? Let your treasure be such as you can take with you—to the grave, to the Kingdom, to eternity.” (Homily to the Rich)
Lenten Detachment: Preparing for the Paschal Mystery
The Church places these readings before us in the final weeks of Lent to challenge us: are we still clinging to earthly things? Have we surrendered our attachments in order to seek Christ alone? St. Paul’s longing in Philippians 3:10—to “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings”—is the very heart of Lent. We embrace suffering and detachment not as ends in themselves but as paths to deeper union with Christ crucified and risen.
Let us, then, take these words to heart. May we count all as loss for the sake of Christ, trusting that the Father desires to give us a kingdom. And in this sacred season, may our hearts be where our true treasure lies—in Christ, our greatest Good.
Domine, fac me tuum! (Lord, make me Yours!)