As we read through Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we can easily track with him, and even agree with him! “Yeah, maybe I do need to have this change of mind!” But then Paul says something so ridiculous he risks losing us: “Have no anxiety at all.” What is going on? How can Paul say this? And how can I live this?

What are those assumptions we carry with us, that we use to analyze our life and the world around us? And are those from a gospel worldview, or does it come from somewhere else? And what do we do about it?

Today we begin a new series we’re calling “Meta Nous: Put On the Mind of Christ.” Most of us look at and understand the wold and reality in a way that is antithetical to the way of looking at and understanding the world proposed by the gospel, the mind of Christ. For four weeks we dig into Paul’s letter to the Philippians seeking to go beyond our current mindset and put on this mind.

Our natural reaction is toward justice, and even going past justice into revenge. But life as a follower of Christ, as a member of God’s Kingdom, is different. It calls us to mercy, to forgive. What does that looks like? And why?

It is easy to hear Jesus’ words in Matthew 18 as a three step process to getting rid of unrepentant sinners. But actually, it’s a challenge for us to love our neighbor in a very concrete (albeit challenging) way.

What is the standard of faith? Attending church? It is heroic witness, the ability to give heroic witness to our faith. But what holds us back? A need for a renewal of mind, of heart. And how do we get there? “Denying” ourself.

What is really going on with Peter’s confession of Jesus as “Christ” and “Son of the living God”? And what does it have to do with me?

It is often said that we’ve moved passed the need for God or faith in God. Why? Because we’ve been to the moon, we’re technologically passed the need to behave like that. That is, until we really evaluate the human condition.

Fear isn’t the issue. Fear is the fruit. Fear is a symptom of a much deeper problem: our relationship with Jesus is in need of work.

Transitions are difficult. For Jesus, the Transfiguration was not just an important manifestation of divinity, but also a concrete beginning of his journey toward calvary, and resurrection! Today, we begin a new stage in the life of our parish.