Tuesday, November 4, 2008

attitude

Philippians 2:5-11; Psalm 22 I will praise you Lord in the assembly of your people; 
Luke 14:15-24


St. Paul tells us today to"have among yourselves the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus."

What is an attitude?

Often times when we think of attitude we think of two classifications: good and bad. 
These are the two words that are associated with attitude. 

But there is more to attitude then just good and bad, positive or negative behavior. 

The word attitude actually comes from Italian word that means posture.  It refers to how we physically stand and move in the world.  In fact Ballet speaks of attitudes when it refers to particular dance postures and moves. 

What was Jesus' attitude?

We see his attitude on the Cross.  There his arms are raised high and wide open.  This is a posture of complete surrender.  It is both spiritual and physical.  

In the mass when we pray the 'Our Father', we are asked to extend our hands outward and upward.  We do this to imitate the attitude of Jesus. We do this to surrender ourselves to the prayer and allow ourselves to be fully involved in what we pray so that we can live the same way as we stand and move in the world.

It is good randomly throughout the day to lift your arms upward and outward in the posture of surrender, in the attitude of Jesus.  When we do so, we open ourselves up to God's grace and we allow the selfishness to subside and give way to magnanimity of soul, making space so Jesus may take control. 

Have the attitude of Christ, when you don't let his attitude have you with arms outstretched upward and outward. 
  



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