Be of the same mind

“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.” (Phil 2: 1 – 5)

Whenever I read this text, I think about my Community of consecrated people and married couples. There is only one vocation—to love—and two different ways to realize this vocation: consecration and marriage. We can listen to the same “encouragement in Christ” and think about my sister, my brother or my spouse. We can change our environment by these simple steps: “be of the same mind,” “united,” “humbly regarding others as more important…”

“All that you have done to us, O Lord, you have done with true judgment, for we have sinned against you and not obeyed your commandments. But give glory to your name and deal with us according to the bounty of your mercy.” (Entrance Antiphon)