31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love.

Has this ever happened to you? You’re cheering for your team at a football game, or you’re dancing with everyone at a wedding, or you’re singing a moving hymn at Mass—and you begin to feel a strong, loving connection with everyone around you. The people nearby may even be strangers, but you still feel a closeness to them. It’s as if, even just for a few moments, you had “the same mind” and “the same love” and were “united in heart” with all these people (Philippians 2:2).

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that feeling could last beyond a football game or a wedding reception? Well, if St. Paul’s words are any indication, this is exactly what God wants for us. Just as any earthly father does, our heavenly Father loves seeing all his children enjoying each other’s presence and living with the same purposes in mind.

So how do we get there? Or at least, how can we get closer to that goal of a constant, stable, life-giving unity? Again, Paul points the way: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). In other words, serve one another. Place the needs of your family, your fellow parishioners, and even strangers you may meet, ahead of your own. Imitate the apostles and the first Christians who were “of one heart and mind” and who made sure that “there was no needy person among them” (Acts 4:32, 34).

This may sound difficult, but remember two things. First, this kind of self-giving unity is a goal to strive toward; no one expects us to achieve it immediately. And second, single-hearted unity is ultimately Christ’s gift to us. It’s the reason he sent the Holy Spirit to live among us. We shouldn’t think we can achieve it on our own.

Is there someone who needs you right now? Is there some way you can lift up a brother or sister in the Lord? Then go and do it! It doesn’t have to be something grand or important. Every act of love and service brings you one step closer to the unity of heart that is God’s desire for all of us.

“Jesus, teach me how to serve just as you did. Lord, make us one in heart!”

Philippians 2:1-4
Psalm 131:1-3
Luke 14:12-14