Let The Same Mind Be In You That Was In Jesus. Philippians 2:5
Proper 21, Year A
Paul appealed to the Christians in Philippi. He implored them to emulate Jesus. Taking up their cross and following Christ, Paul insisted, would enable them both to will what God willed, and live as God called them. Paul wrote,
…if there is any encouragement in Christ Jesus, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, make me happy… Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus… so you are able to (sic.) carry out your salvation with fear and trembling. God, in Christ Jesus,… will enable you both to want and actually live out God’s purposes. (Philippians 2:1-2a, 13).
This is “easier said than done.” On ordinary days, carrying out our salvation requires consistent commitment and intentional practice. During hard days and seasons, it is much more difficult to believe and behave in accordance with our faith.
Israel and Moses struggled to believe and act in accordance with their faith. Though God liberated Israel from slavery in Egypt, and fed them chicken and biscuits (aka, quail and manna) in the wilderness, their faith faltered when they ran out of water. This and the other dangers in their journey through the wilderness induced stress and fomented fear. Even Moses became stressed and fearful.
The whole Israelite community broke camp and set out from the desert to continue their journey as the God commanded. They set up their camp at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. The people argued with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink”. …they asked, “Is God really with us or not?” Moses responded, “Why are you arguing with me? Why are you testing God?” …Moses cried out to God, “What should I do with this people?” (Exodus 17:1-2a, 7, 2b, 4).
Stress and fear generated doubts. Israel doubted whether God was with them. Moses doubted his ability to serve God. Doubts arise when problems, disasters, declining health, and relational conflict arise. Negative experiences induce stress, foment fear, and generate doubt.
Emulating Jesus Christ is both our calling, and a way to cope with hardships. The life, crucifixion, 3 days sleep in death, and resurrection of Jesus can, if we refer to them, function like a road map. Through these experiences, Jesus modeled faith and service. Following his example will enable us to “be merciful, just as God is merciful,” (Luke 6:36a). By taking up my cross and following Jesus, I have learned how to deal with hardships and and how to repurpose hardships to deepen my faith.
First I learned from Jesus how to distinguish the difference between accepting God as my Father, and making God my daddy. When I was little I sat on my dad’s lap during meals and, much to my mother’s dismay, ate from his plate even when he had used hot sauce. When I was in elementary and middle school, my dyslexia made reading difficult. Dad, even after late office hours, would read and record my text books onto cassette tapes for me to listen to them. After I purchased a home, my dad visited every weekend to make repairs. As you can see, I was a “daddy’s girl.” Eventually, I gave up relying on my dad to fix things. I shifted to fixing some things with him, assessing the limits of his repair skills, and learning how to locate, vet, and hire repair people. Overtime, I developed my relationship with God as I had my relationship with my dad. I moved from dependence to interdependence. While I am very aware of my need for God, I am equally aware of God’s need for me. God needs and calls me to use my time, talents, and resources to partner with God. I partner with God to find, clarify, and pursue my purpose. I partner with God to implement God’s plans for the communities and people around me. God is my heavenly parent and I am God’s child. I strive to live as an adult child of God, so that the blessings God bestows on me can become blessings for others.
I also learned from Jesus that faith is not simple. Faith is not an equation where belief + practice = peace/prosperity. Faith and service are complex, just as Jesus’ life and service were complex. The Gospel of Jesus has miracles and magi, sell-outs and suffering. Our life narratives have ups and downs, blessings and challenges. Psalm 78 advises us to share the stories of faith with our children (Psalm 78:4). Telling faith stories reminds us, and also those listening, that God is present during both the ups and downs. God is with us in the valley of the shadow of death, and anointing our heads with oil (Psalm 23). I recently attended a CREDO retreat with 30 clergy and 6 faculty members. As people shared their faith stories, it became apparent that everyone, faculty and participants, had endured traumas. Hardships they caused, and hardships inflicted by loved ones, church members, and bishops. On the third retreat day, faculty held a healing service to give us an opportunity to seek healing. During that service, I acknowledged the many injuries I had suffered over the course of nearly 40 years in ministry and 66 years of life. As I recalled these experiences, I had an insight. My insight: I had been, and might still be hurt, but I have never been harmed. I had been hurt, but not harmed because God was with me during each injury, crying with me, cleansing and dressing my wounds, sending comforters and healers, and inviting me to learn from each injury. God’s presence did not prevent injury. God’s presence helped to make me resilient, compassionate, and wise. Journeying as Jesus did through pain and suffering, I have learned to be merciful to myself and to others as God is merciful.
God gave Moses a big stick. God nourished Israel with chicken, biscuits, and water from a rock. God gave us Jesus. Christ Jesus is a role model, a road map. Jesus partnered with God to offer salvation for all. We are to partner with God to accomplish our own salvation, and build the kingdom of God on earth, as it is in heaven. The Gospel of Jesus Christ included magi and miracles, sellouts and suffering. Our life stories will have ups and downs, blessing and challenges. As I reflect and pray about my life and vocation, I acknowledge the hurts, and celebrate the healings and transformations. Have the same mind as was in Jesus: take up your cross and follow, so you can be merciful as God is merciful.
