The Beautiful Mind of Christ

The 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s Readings: [Click here]

Denise was in her 40s when she had a heart attack. She was rushed to the hospital, and on the operating table, she had a near-death experience. During that experience, she saw God and asked him if this was it. God said no and reassured her that she had another 40 years to live. So once Denise recovered, she decided to stay in the hospital and have a facelift, liposuction and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in to change her hair color. She figured that since she had a good number of years left, she might as well make the most of it. The day she was released, Denise walked out of the hospital and was killed by a speeding ambulance. She arrived in front of God once again and said, “I thought you said I had another 40 years left!” And God replied, “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”

Maybe there’s a modicum of truth in that funny story. When we were baptized, our sins were all washed away and we were left with a shiny, clean soul. So when God looked into our soul, he’d see a reflection of himself—and he’d recognize us as one of his own. But as we’ve continued to live in a world surrounded by temptation and sin, it’s been easy to succumb and sin by our actions and omissions, our desires and even our thoughts… perhaps even to such an extent that God barely recognizes us as his own anymore.

So: what’s going on in your mind today? A very holy grandmother—a former parishioner of mine—used to say that if our true thoughts were ever known, most of us would probably be arrested! The mind may forever be a mystery to scientists and physicians, but one thing is certain: some thoughts can be harmful to others, and ourselves, especially if we act on them.

As a priest, I like to ask people sometimes what they’re thinking. It’s important for people to be aware of their own thoughts and feelings so they can better cultivate the mind of Christ. As the saying goes: as we think, we often become.

Today’s beautiful second reading offers us insight into the mind of Christ, through the words of an early hymn of the Christian church. First-century Christians didn’t really have access to written materials about Christ. Many people were illiterate. They memorized and sang hymns to help them deepen their faith and let them pass on the truths of the gospel to others. Countless generations of faithful believers have been strengthened by this particular hymn of praise, singing it in many different forms and chants, in their search to understand and experience the beautiful mind of Jesus. Maybe you, too, have sung: “every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Yet who among us can really understand the mind of God? This side of eternity, our finite minds will never fully grasp the beautiful mind of Christ. But the words that St. Paul wrote to the Philippians can help. Even though Jesus has always co-existed with God the Father—the Creator—as an equal part of the Godhead, he willingly humbled himself to walk among us in human form. Christ voluntarily gave up his heavenly privilege, glory and comfort, to share human hardships while confronting evil. He took upon himself the lowliest servant lifestyle imaginable, working as an impoverished carpenter, living in relative obscurity. He chose to work with his hands in rough, menial labor and eat peasant food.

But there’s more to his story.

Jesus was always mindful of God’s plan for his life. He knew he was destined to die a shameful, horrific death on the cross for the sins of the entire world. Because Jesus was willing to suffer and die, God has forever exalted the name of Jesus Christ above all other names in the world. Even though other religions may have a lot to teach us, it is only the name of Jesus that will someday bring us all to our knees in adoration, uniting our voices in praise to our Creator. Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

My mind is nowhere near the mind of Christ. Like you, I struggle with less than noble thoughts. As a sinful humanity, we have self-serving thoughts and ambitions, often at the expense of others.

But here is the hope of the gospel: through prayer, reading the scriptures, worshiping faithfully, and making service of others an integral part of our life, we can experience, in part, the beautiful mind of Christ. We can become less selfish and arrogant, while growing ever more loving and thoughtful of others. The mind of Christ transforms, redeems and reconciles us with God. Truly, that is something to sing about!

So we pray today that God will give us the beautiful mind of Christ and transform our ways of thinking and interacting with other people. May we come to think his thoughts in safety and in danger, in comfort and in our burdens, in life and at the hour of our death. Amen.