Before Paul's words in our first reading, the Christian Philippians asked about men who were preaching about Christ but did not participate in their worship. They didn't think they had the right to do that. However, Paul answers that whenever anyone proclaims Christ, whomever they are or whatever their motivation, it makes him joyful. He reduces the entire message to that single word, "Christ," the one who lives among us as our Risen Savior. He says, "It is not ourselves we preach but Jesus Christ as LORD." (2 Cor 4:4-5).
Unlike those of the Gospels, Paul's writings do not report the words or actions of Jesus. His message centered on the Risen Christ, living among the people. The Church's actions and words become acts or statements of the "Body of Christ." Paul was happy when that message was passed on to others by merely mentioning the name "Christ."+
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