Our minds can be filled with many things, some good, some not.  We are called to make the mind of Christ our own, to let our minds be filled with everything that is true, pure, and good (Philippians 2:5, 4:8).  But as Wisdom 9:14-15 says, our attitudes of mind can be unstable, “for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the mind with its many cares.”  

The devil also can exploit the vulnerability of our minds.  In John 13:2, we see that the devil “put it into the mind of Judas” to betray Jesus.  Likewise, St. Paul was afraid that “just as the snake with his cunning seduced Eve,” the Corinthians’ minds might be “led astray from single-minded devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).  Therefore, we must be vigilant in safeguarding our minds, praying for the grace to continually turn them to Jesus (Hebrews 3:1).         

As one such safeguard, perhaps we could each learn by heart Luke 9:44.  Jesus said, “you must have these words constantly in mind:  The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men” (Luke 9:44).  There is so much in this single verse, for God’s wisdom is many-sided (Ephesians 3:10).  Below are three truths that stood out to me. 

The first is the humility of Christ.  “He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, He was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).  We also are called to be humble, for whoever claims to remain in the Lord must act as He acted (1 John 2:6). As St. Peter instructed us, “humility towards one another must be the garment you all wear constantly, because God opposes the proud but accords his favor to the humble.  Bow down, then, before the power of God now, so that He may raise you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).

There is blessing in humility, as the eyes of God are drawn to the person of “humbled and contrite spirit” who trembles at His Word (Isaiah 66:2). As Mother Mary said, “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; because He has looked upon the humiliation of His servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will called me blessed” (Luke 1:47-48).  

The second is that God’s ways are higher than our ways.  When Jesus told the disciples that He was going to suffer and be put to death before being raised up on the third day, Peter did not understand and said that this must not happen.  Jesus rebuked him and responded, “you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do” (Matthew 16:23).  In our lives also, no matter what happens, we have to remind ourselves that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours.  “For the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts,” says the Lord (Isaiah 55:9).  All His ways are grace and truth (Tobit 3:2), working for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

The third is the everlasting love of God (Jeremiah 31:3).  “This is the revelation of God’s love for us, that God sent His only Son into the world that we might have life through Him” (1 John 4:9).  “This is the proof of love, that He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16).  “Since He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for the sake of all of us, then can we not expect that, with Him, He will freely give us all His gifts” (Romans 8:32)?  Jesus assures us that we too, His little flock, have no need to fear, because in His great love, He has promised each one of us the Kingdom (Luke 12:32)! 

May God, especially through His Word, enlighten the eyes of our minds so that we may see what hope His call holds for each of us, how rich is the glory of the heritage He offers, and how extraordinarily great is His power (Ephesians 1:18-19). Dear brothers and sisters, if indeed we try our best to follow the counsel of our Lord to have His words constantly in our minds, we will not only have our minds enlightened and see the hope to which He has called us, but we also will have the gift of the morning star rising in our minds, which will be a sure guide through all the periods of darkness that we may encounter (2 Peter 1:19)!