Faith in a Time of Pandemic – Having the Mind of Christ

XXXVII.
HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST
(4/21)
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

We must remember that Paul’s Letters were addressed to people just like us and congregations just like our own, mostly small, struggling, aware of their limits, and (also) hopeful in the new life of Jesus Christ.

Paul challenges us to have the mind of Christ. He leaves the contours of the mind of Christ vague, inviting us to embody Christ in our own way. Yet, he gives a guidepost in the following verses (Philippians 2:6-11): the mind of Christ embraces the whole earth, lives humbly yet purposefully, sacrifices for the greater good, and shares the lot of the vulnerable.

The Cross shows us that God is the fellow sufferer who understands. God is with us in our pain and calls us to share each other’s pain. The Resurrection tells us that we can rise up from our pain, our smallness of mind, our prejudice, and alienation, and bring life where there is death and love where there is hate, and comfort the fears of those around us and the child within us.

Ask Jesus to give you his mind, to see things as he does, to have his values, and to see his presence in all creation, most especially the forgotten and neglected. For you have the mind of Christ.
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Thank you, Jesus, for giving me your vision and mind, your love and spirit. Let me see the world with your eyes, touch others with your hands, and love with your heart. Amen.