ATTITUDE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Attitude.”

Attitude is my tone – my temperament. It’s my set of beliefs about all sorts of things – all bundled up to form my outlook. It’s my spirit. It’s what comes into a room with me – when I walk into a room.

IT’S GREEK TO ME

Today’s first reading from Philippians begins,

Brothers and sisters:
Have among yourselves the same attitude 
that is also yours in Christ Jesus,

I read that and began thinking about the word and the theme “attitude”.

For starters I did what I always do when I start to work on a homily. What are the key words in the text. If from the Jewish Bible – what are the key Hebrew Words? If  the text is from the New Testament,  I go back to the Greek.

I was wondering what the Greek word that became “attitude” in our text was. It’s “phroneo” - here in Philippians 2:5 – that becomes “attitude” in our New American Bible translation and “mind” in other translations.

The only everyday word where this Greek word appears in is the back end of the world schizophrenia – meaning a person’s mind is disorganized and out of touch with most other minds..

So the Greek word “phroneo” – here in Philippians means “mind”.

Listen to these translations of that one verse:

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” [NRSV]

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” [KJ]

“You attitude should be the kind what was shown us by Jesus Christ.” [The Living Bible Paraphrased]

“Let Christ Jesus be your example as to what your attitude should be.” [Phillips]

“In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus.” [Jerusalem Bible]

Take your pick. In this Letter to the Philippians Paul is telling his readers to take on the attitude or mind or way of thinking and doing that Christ had.

TODAY

This morning and today I would just stress looking at one’s attitudes and compare them to Christ’s attitude.

Comparisons can crush. Comparisons can also recreate us.

Conversion – growth – recalculating – would be moving from my way of thinking to Christ’s way of thinking.

Different surveys indicate that people want stuff and sermons on spirituality.

 So there it is: compare my attitude to Christ’s attitude.

We’ve all seen scenes in movies when a dad says to a son, “I don’t like your attitude, young man!”  We’ve all heard someone say, “I like your attitude.”

Coaches, bosses, parents, teachers often challenge others to better their attitude.

We hear about a company’s morale or a team’s culture or mood – usually when it needs a change of attitude or atmosphere – or tone of voice or mood around here.

The first step would be to get our minds on comparisons between different takes on situations. The second step would be to choose the better way. The third step would be to start stepping in that better direction  - walking the walk – not just talking the talk – as they put it.

TODAY’S FIRST READING

Today’s first reading gives us Christ’s attitude. It’s emptying self of self – no matter who we are – even if we’re God. It’s service. It’s an attitude of humility – the willingness to clean toilets and pick up litter on our streets – take out the garbage – listening – really listening to those around us.

CONCLUSION

Years ago the key spiritual message for Christians was found in the book entitled, The Imitation of Christ. Then for spiritual direction we moved to reading the scriptures. If we could get a handle on the Bible – we were getting our hands on good spirituality. We were told to practice the Beatitudes. Many began taking the Jesuit Exercises which stressed seeing Jesus walking our roads  and meeting folks – and be each person in the scene in the story. See and picture what Jesus did in these stories – and then do it. Then we had those bracelets with WWJD on them – and then do it.

Attitude comes from action. And wonderful things happen when we act like Jesus. Did you hear how the opening prayer for today’s  feast of St Charles Borromeo put it. Let me close with it,

Preserve in the midst of your people,

we ask, O Lord, the spirit with which

You filled the Bishop Saint Charles Borromeo,

that your Church may be constantly renewed,

and by conforming herself to the likeness of Christ,

may show his face to the world.

Who lives and reigns with you

In the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, forever and ever. Amen