Brothers and sisters: Have among yourselves the same attitude
that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped. // Philippians 2:5-6
There was a wooden sign in my grandma’s kitchen which stated: “Thou shalt not whine.” I’m not sure where it came from or why she put it there, but my cousins and I knew that our complaints wouldn’t change her mind. We needed to change our attitudes.
Years later, I still notice times when I need to change my attitude. I know what I should do, but I am not always sure how to do so. Saint Paul unlocks this mystery for us as he describes the attitude of Christ Jesus in today’s First Reading (see Philippians 2:5-11).
Jesus humbled Himself, knowing His identity before the Father. This identity as the beloved Son formed His every decision. He trusted in the Father’s provision with complete surrender.
Jesus emptied Himself, putting aside the powers of His divinity while uniting Himself to the frailty and weakness of our humanity. He became so small and followed the laws of human growth.
Jesus took the form of a slave, attentive to the needs of each person before Him. He planted, plowed, and harvested in His Father’s Kingdom.
Jesus obeyed His Father, knowing that He must dwell in His Father’s house with joyful surrender to the Father’s will. He let the Father provide for His every need.
Jesus offered Himself on the Cross, knowing that all the misunderstanding, confusion, and pain could be offered as a gift to His Father. The Passion and Cross always lead to the glory of the Resurrection.
This model of humility, emptying, submitting, obeying, and offering is how I can live my life united to Christ’s life. Jesus, please give me the grace to have Your same attitude, especially when I am tempted to have a bad attitude. Thank You for Your offering of Yourself for me.
Rose Coleman is an elementary school teacher with a heart for pilgrimage. She traveled the globe on a ship during college and spent some years in the convent as a religious sister. She was a contributing author to All She Had, Blessed Conversations: Rooted, and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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