Scripture: Philippians 2:1-3
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Thought for the Day: The day before yesterday, I was sitting down at my desk with my cup of freshly brewed tea. I opened my computer, checked the CNN’s website for recent news, and the first story I saw had the headline: Woman dies after drinking poisonous tea. Now I do not wish to make light of a tragedy, but there are times when someone else’s tragedy hits home because of the very thing you are holding in your hand…or maybe some other relevant place of connection. Otherwise, the headline and story would have gone unnoticed. In the past, when I have read the writing of the Apostle Paul, and specifically his discussion of “being in full accord and one mind,” I have usually thought about the community being one in their opinions on certain subject matters, but as I read this passage in its fullness (the first few chapters of Philippians), I realize that it is about love, compassion, selflessness, humility and sympathy. When I think of those terms, I imagine Paul speaking about our common humanity – the very things that make us human – including the experiences of joy and suffering, hope and hopelessness, friendship and brokenness. Everyone of us has known those moments, and when we recognize that connecting point, it makes us more compassionate and open to our sisters and brothers with whom we may disagree on a whole host of topics. At the end of the day, we maintain our common humanity no matter our opinions.
Prayer: Give me eyes to see and a heart that can appreciate the life situations of others, O Merciful and Gracious God. Provide me an openness to the deep-seated struggles within those around me, and with that openness shall come compassion, genuine concern and love. That’s the kind of human I wish to be, O Lord. With your help, it is possible. Amen.
THIS SATURDAY
SUNDAY NIGHT
