Have you ever been asked the question, “Where are you from?” The way we express or say words and our mannerisms can often prompt that question. (For instance, Minnesotans have a unique way of expressing the positive with a negative. The question, “How are you doing?” is often answered with the positive/negative, “Not so bad.” Another example is “awful good coffee”.) In today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Paul writes that the manner by which we act and express ourselves must show that we are citizens of heaven and not citizens of the world in which we live.
Those of this world, Paul calls “enemies of the cross of Christ”. The way by which they live and express themselves indicates their citizenship. Paul describes their way of life in these words, “Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things.” Paul calls upon the Philippians to model their lives after that of Jesus. In doing so they will find their bodies, through the power of Jesus, gradually transformed into Jesus’ own glorified body.
As those who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, we, too, have died and risen with Christ. While we may live in our world, we are no longer OF this world. We have one foot planted firmly in heaven, while our other foot rests in this world. As we allow our bodies to gradually be transformed into the glorified body of Jesus, we bring that part of heaven that is Jesus into the world in which we live, with the hope that over time, our world will also experience the glorification we are undergoing.
May these 40 days of Lent be transformative for us and for the world in which we live.
