In today’s first reading St. Paul differentiates believers from those “of the world.” People without faith cannot make sense of the the world. They have no spritual vocabulary – no lens though which to understand this human/divine enterprise. “But we,” St. Paul says, “we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).”
I have the mind of Christ? It must be so if Paul says so, I just can’t fathom it. My mind is filled with thoughts – random and conscious, fleeting and stubborn. The last few weeks especially have been taken up with very complex mental operations and very mundane realities. “What should our three scholastics be reading this year?” “What size filter goes in the A/C vent upstairs?” “Where does Sister Charlotte get her courage?” “Did I wheel the garbage to the street?” “Have to start that report for Chapter.” “God, I need ice cream!” “I miss you, Denise.” “Call Catholic Mutual to get insurance for the new car.”
I have the mind of Christ? It must be so if Paul says so, I just can’t fathom it. My mind is filled with thoughts – random and conscious, fleeting and stubborn. The last few weeks especially have been taken up with very complex mental operations and very mundane realities. “What should our three scholastics be reading this year?” “What size filter goes in the A/C vent upstairs?” “Where does Sister Charlotte get her courage?” “Did I wheel the garbage to the street?” “Have to start that report for Chapter.” “God, I need ice cream!” “I miss you, Denise.” “Call Catholic Mutual to get insurance for the new car.”
My mind feels very much like my mind right now. I can’t imagine the Lord living with that torrent of information coursing through his grey matter. But he must have had worries…and a “To Do” list of his own. “So many to heal…I can’t bear their suffering.” “One hour ALONE would be so good.” “I need to visit my Mother.” “These fishermen just aren’t getting it.” “Father, I love you.” “Jerusalem means death.” “Five loaves will be plenty.” “Am I doing your will?” “I need a weekend at Bethany.” “Father, I love them so much it hurts.”
Maybe, having “the mind of Christ” doesn’t mean a life without worry or earthly concerns. Maybe, it means believing that whatever happens to me today will be part of God’s plan to bless my life. Maybe, it means doing just what I can do in a day and knowing that God will take care of the rest. There is more, though. If I have the mind of Christ it is by way of grace and I become him only as much as I desire it to be so. To really have his mind, I must see the most difficult person as a child of God. I must never give up on anyone or fail to forgive. I must, ultimately, empty myself, like he did and open my arms to suffering and death. It is the gift of “his mind” that will enable this to happen in the life of every Christian – a gift given at Baptism that unfolds as we engage the mystery of faith. For right now? It is a great comfort to know that my thoughts – as ordinary as they are – are known to Christ. He knows what this journey is like and can strengthen me for any bump in the road. Now, that’s a lovely thought.
Blessings and love to you…
- Sister Vicki
