Tuesday, November 12, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Philippians 2:1–11

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (RSV)

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Reflection

“Now our minds are one.” This phrase appears eighteen times across the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, an Iroquois Confederacy tradition known as the words that come before all else. No matter how much fidgeting might be present, students gather to share in reading the address at the start of the school day. No matter what distractions are present, public meetings open with this litany of gratitude for the world through which we move.

There is good reason for this practice. In its various translations (Robin Wall Kimmerer, in “Allegiance to Gratitude” from Braiding Sweetgrass, cites a 1993 translation from the Onondaga), the address helps build solidarity: “Can we agree that water is important to our lives? Can we agree that we are grateful that the berries are with us in the world? We send our greetings and thanks. Now our minds are one.”

Paul, no stranger to disharmony or discord, senses conflict among the church members at Philippi. But let’s consider that in writing to the Philippians, he also speaks a message of harmony to us today: Be of the same mind, united in spirit. Be in full accord and of one mind. Know that the mind you have among yourselves is in Christ Jesus. Reject selfishness and conceit. Follow Jesus’ example by humbling yourselves. Look out for the interests of others.

Both messages — the Thanksgiving Address and Paul’s unity-minded words to the Philippians — serve as mechanisms for imagining a greater good. One places us in the context of a vast creation; its message is gratitude. The other reminds us that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, to the glory of God, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

As we move into this season of thanksgiving, may we, too, be of one mind by setting our sights on high — the beauty of the earth, the wonder of the sky, and the love of Christ that redeems us — because Thanksgiving might be better imagined as gratitude not for what we possess but gratitude for the good that possesses us.

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Prayer
May the peace of Christ possess us. Amen.

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Written by Sarah Forbes Orwig, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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