Think and Be Like Christ
Discipleship Questions for
Sunday September 28, 2008
Scripture Readings:
First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm Reading: Psalm 25
Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
First Reading Ez 18:25-28
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
By turning from wickedness, a wicked person shall preserve his life.
Thus says the LORD:
You say, “The LORD's way is not fair!”
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed,
he does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
(R.) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
(R.) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not;
in your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
(R.) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
(R.) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Second Reading Phil 2:1-11
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians
Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters:
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.
Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those 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.
Gospel Mt 21:28-32
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
He changed his mind and went. Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven before you.
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
He said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
Discipleship Questions:
1. Please read the above readings and look for any resonant theme.
2. Focus now on the Second Reading. This is a picture of Jesus Christ. Please read the following: Phil. 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, (If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ) if any comfort from his love, (if his love has made any difference in your life) if any fellowship with the Spirit, (if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you) if any tenderness and compassion, (if you have a heart, if you care) 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, (by agreeing with each other) having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, (Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.) but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (help others get ahead) 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Don’t be obsessed with getting your own way.)
Phil. 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (Let the same king of thinking dominate you as dominated Christ Jesus) 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, (Jesus had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what) 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (e˚auto\n e˙ke÷nwsen he emptied himself, divested himself of his privileges) 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. What is the theme that reveals itself to you? Please discuss.
3. “The key word in all of these verses is arguably the word “Kenosis” found in verse 7 – Jesus made Himself as nothing – taking the very nature of a servant!
In Christian theology, Kenosis is the concept of the 'self-emptying' of one's own will and becoming entirely receptive to God and his perfect will.
So fundamentally it’s about bring transformed into the icon or "likeness of Christ" and that’s what being a full blooded Christian is really all about isn’t it?” How have you followed in Christ’s example by “emptying” yourself?
4. Please look with me back at verse 5: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (Let the same kind of thinking dominate you as dominated Christ Jesus) This is an active and imperative command and the Greek is: Touvto fronei√te – it means “think this!” with an exclamation mark after it!!!!
Paul is telling us to “Let the same kind of thinking dominate us as dominated Christ Jesus.” And what was that “thinking” that so dominated the way Christ thought?
It was an attitude of love that compelled him to relinquish His divine privileges to rescue us by becoming just like us – one of us!
He fully identified with us! He became one of us!
Now what St. Paul is saying is that to the extent to which his readers have felt Christ’s encouragement, His love, His fellowship, His tenderness and compassion then they are to respond to all of this in like manner!
As they have felt encouragement so that are to encourage others.
As they have felt Christ’s love they are to love others.
As they have felt Christ’s fellowship so they too are to generously give themselves to their community.
As they have felt Christ’s tenderness and compassion so too they are to be generous with their tenderness and compassion!
All of these virtues that made up the way Christ responded to the world so too as we experience them from Him we are to give in like manner these virtues out to the world around us.
Think about that – to not do this is like someone experiencing constant expressions of inexpressible love but giving nothing back!
Now I must confess that this is a picture of me a lot of the time. I experience Christ’s love and forgiveness. When I reach out to Him I feel His closeness – His fellowship and tenderness and compassion . . . but how much do I give return of this to Him and to those about me?”
Can you ask yourself that question please?
How much do I experience of the love of Christ? And how much of that do I then extend to Him and the rest of the world.
5. Now we’re ready to return to verse 7: but Jesus made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Now we return to the idea of “kenosis” – self-emptying.
This is what Jesus did and we’re being told to do the same – our attitude – our mindset – should be the same as that of Jesus!
Self-emptying! Yuck! This is not fun! I can try to think like Jesus. I can try to draw near to God! But “self-emptying” is when all of this seems to get “too” real for most of us!
But can you see that self-emptying is love’s action!
It’s love put into first gear isn’t it.
Can you imagine love acting in any other way than reaching out to another above and beyond ourselves!
Love reaches over our selves to the other. There is a self-forgetfulness in loving isn’t there?
Can you imagine yourself being like this? Please discuss.