Brothers and Sisters,
This Sunday’s reading is from Philippians 4, verse 8:
Whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think on these things.
We are told here to think about what is good, to have our thoughts formed by what is good. How do we do that?
We rest on the reality that God’s Word renews our minds. We have the Scriptures. Immersing ourselves in the Scriptures is a sure way to form our thoughts toward what is true, honorable, pure, and lovely.
We also have the opportunity every week to gather to hear the preaching of the gospel. Gospel preaching constantly reminds us of what is true.
I have no doubt that this instruction was relevant to the Philippian Christians to whom Paul’s letter was written, but this guidance is especially pertinent to our own day.
It’s remarkably easy to find ourselves thinking about what is untrue, dishonorable, unjust,
impure, things that aren’t lovely and things that aren’t commendable. If you’re tempted to doubt
that reality at all, just spend a few minutes on social media.
I’d go so far as to say we’re living in a culture where we are constantly bombarded with things that are untrue and impure. It takes deliberate effort to keep unlovely things from dominating our thoughts.
That said, Paul’s exhortation here isn’t primarily about what to avoid. His basic point, here, is to
think lovely; we all need it.
God provides the means to renew our minds. Let’s not neglect the gifts he has provided.
In Christ,
Fr. Caleb