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Sunday, October 1, 2017

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26th Sunday Ordinary Time


Ezekiel 18:25-28
Philippians 2:1-11
Psalm 25:4-9
Matthew 21:28-32

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his attitude

"Your attitude must be that of Christ." —Philippians 2:5

We can have not only the heart and mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) but also His attitude. Christ's attitude was to empty (Phil 2:7) and humble "Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!" (Phil 2:8) The Lord's attitude is "gentle and humble" (Mt 11:29). He came to serve, not to be served (Mt 20:28). He tells us to take the lowest place (Lk 14:10). The Lord "guides the humble to justice, He teaches the humble His way" (Ps 25:9). The Lord teaches us to "think humbly of others as superior" to ourselves and to look "to others' interests rather than" our own (Phil 2:3, 4).

The Lord's attitude is graphically expressed by the manger in Bethlehem, the cross on Calvary, and by offering Himself to us under the appearances of bread and wine. Jesus' attitude is humble, obedient, unselfish, crucified, glorified, astounding, and mysterious. Amazingly, the Lord commands and graces us to have in us the same attitude that is in Him (Phil 2:5). Get His attitude!

Prayer:  Father, send the Holy Spirit to give me the attitude of Jesus.

Promise:  "If a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die." —Ez 18:27-28

Praise:  Praise You, risen Jesus, "gentle and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29). Be glorified in the world through our lives.

Reference:  (Grow in humility by reading the Bible each day. A tape series that may help you is An Introduction to each Book of the Bible. It is thirty-two audio tapes starting with AV 21-1, Matthew and Mark, or seventeen video tapes starting with V-21.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 12, 2017

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