4 November 2014 - that my home may be filled

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus

Let us complete the joy of Paul and the saints by being of one mind with them, just as Paul asks in yesterday's reading. We read that having that mind means doing nothing out of selfishness or vainglory and we already begin to squirm. But today we see the true depth of what it means to have the mind of Christ.

Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and, found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.

Yesterday we read that to have the mind of Christ is solace, participation in the Spirit, compassion and mercy. When the mind of Christ is transforming us we are united in heart and mind with Jesus and the saints. We think only one thing. We live entirely out of love for God and neighbor.

Today we more fully grasp why having the mind of Christ is so good. The humility of Jesus before his Father's will opens him to the exultation the Father longs to pour out on him.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name

We are powerless to live this kind of humility. And yet, as we read, we have the mind of Christ. And if we are called to let ourselves be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Even so, can we reach the point where we have the same mind that is in Christ Jesus, the mind of complete humility about which we read this morning?  Yes, because, "they who seek the LORD shall praise him".

It isn't about our qualifications. They often just distract us. They encourage us to work on our own projects. They encourage us toward self-help and self-fulfillment rather than trusting in the LORD. Jesus freely invites us but we decline. He's ready for us but we're too busy.

‘Come, everything is now ready.’
But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.

There are so many reasons why we become preoccupied with ourselves. They mostly start off as legitimate concerns. But when we're too busy to respond to the LORD's invitation they become problematic and potentially sinful. It isn't so much about how we spend our time. It is about the things that are first in our hearts. All we need to do, whether we have a million projects going on or none, is to seek him, because "they who seek the LORD shall praise him". He inspires the desire to seek him. He gives us the mind we need to find him amidst the distractions. He wants his house to be filled. He wants all of us to taste this banquet.

‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in that my home may be filled.

So let us continue to still and quiet our souls so that the mind of Christ can transform us. This is what it means to seek him at the most basic level. It means to seek to rest in his strong arms and to let his mind transform us.

We find ourselves more and more free to live in obedience. We are free to offer banquets selflessly for those in need. And as we do that, we begin even now to experience exultation from the Father.

For dominion is the LORD’s,
and he rules the nations.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth.
To him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.