In Philippi, some were preaching a message that was contrary to the one proclaimed by Paul. In this regard, Paul questions the motives of the missionaries who were causing disharmony. He believed that they preached Christ out of selfish ambition and envy against him. They wanted to rival him to gain recognition and popularity among the believers. Their motives, therefore, were impure. For Paul, however, it does not matter how it is done, as long as Christ is preached. Jesus addresses a parable to the guests and gives advice both to them and to the host about the motives of one’s actions. The key point of His parable is that one should not seek worldly honour or openly employ false humility in dealings with others. Basically, it means that self-exaltation must not be sought either openly or secretly. When we want to do good, it should be done freely, without any expectation of reward. Jesus Himself is an excellent example of this, as He went about doing good, emptying Himself completely for the sake of others, without counting the costs.

The readings today challenge us to constantly examine our motives when we do something, even if it seems beneficial to others or the community. Do we do it hoping to receive a reward or recompense, or to gain popularity or recognition from others? Or do we do it freely without counting the costs?