31st Week in Ordinary Time : Tuesday 3rd November 2020

“Your attitude must be Christ’s”. In Paul’s original language, this phrase is incredibly deep and very difficult to translate or interpret. Paul has been dealing with dissension and differing attitudes within the new community in Philippi.

This may signify that Paul’s intention at this point of his letter was to remind these early Christians of the significance of their baptism for community life. Thus, to spell it out, his meaning may be: ‘Have this mind among yourselves which you received at baptism when you became a new person in Christ; At baptism, you accepted Jesus and his world vision and his set of values, therefore in your daily Christian community lives, live out all your relationships according to that new mind of Christ which you accepted’.

Throughout the letter, he continues to insist on unity in the community in terms of a common understanding a common love — invaluable teaching for all of us who live in a very fragmented world.

Lord, grant us the grace to lead every aspect of our human life, guided by the grace of baptism.