Key Verse: "...and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God' "(Ephesians 5:2).
Introduction
The essential message and mission of the Gospel of Christ is revealed in Jesus Christ living the Paschal Mystery as Messiah. The Paschal Mystery is laying down the old human life, which is inappropriately dominated by the mind of the flesh, and putting on the new human life in Christ, which is dominated by the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-17). In the context of theology, the mind of the flesh, which may be described scientifically as left brain hemisphere thinking and behavior, is called sinfulness. The mind of the spirit, which may be described scientifically as right brain hemisphere thinking and behavior, is called righteousness.
In today's Epistle the Apostle Paul describes how right brain hemisphere mindsets, attitudes, behaviors and relationships should have dominion in Christ-centered witnessing paschal faith communities. The mind of the spirit facilitates spiritual resurrection, spiritual awakening and spiritual formation in Christ. It enhances the human experiences of the new and eternal life in Christ, which Jesus Christ revealed here on earth. In right brain hemisphere thinking, attitudes and behavior, physical things are seen as manifestations of the hidden, interpenetrating spiritual universe, in which we all live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). Interrelatedness and interdependence of the divine and the human, and integrating the religious and secular dimensions of our lives are embraced as characteristic of right brain hemisphere thinking and behavior. Mercy, compassion, civility and agape love are seen as essential elements in expressing humanness.
Unity in Christ
To the Apostle Paul, right brain hemisphere dominion, faith, humility, obedience and agape love are needed to cast down and cast out the old and erroneous dogmas, xenophobias, divisions, incivility, falsehood, and lies of left brain hemisphere thinking, behavior and relationships. In the mind of the spirit, Christ-centered believers and witnesses are able to put away lying, anger, stealing and slander. In the mind of the spirit witnesses are empowered to practice, truthfulness, forgiveness, and work to earn an honest living. Right brain hemisphere dominion enables witnesses to give no place to the indignation, sin, wrath, and spiritual death of the Devil. In right brain hemisphere thinking and behaviors, the mind of the flesh is blocked from succeeding and prevailing within witnessing paschal faith communities (Ephesians 4:25-28).
Avoid stealing and evil speaking
Right brain hemisphere attitudes and behavior enable witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities to practice, benevolence, compassion, civility and loving kindness as they provide for the spiritual, psychological, emotional, financial, political, educational and economically poor. By living their lives in the mind of the spirit, witness are able to avoid the demons, evil and destructive communications, attitudes and behaviors of the mind of the flesh. In the power, discernment and seal of the Holy Spirit, witnesses edify and build up one another in Christ-centered regeneration, redemption, spiritual maturity and kingdom living, here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10, Ephesians 4:29-30).
Be kind hearted and avoid anger and bitterness
Right brain hemisphere thinking and behavior enable witnesses to get rid of bitterness, passion and anger. In the mind and power of the Holy Spirit witness are able to avoid the incivility of shouting insults, holding prejudices and hateful feeling of any sort. In the mind of the spirit witness are able to be tenderhearted, loving, caring and forgive one another, as the Godhead through Christ, has forgiven them (Ephesians 4:31-32).
Exhortation to holy living
In the mind of the spirit, Christ-centered spiritually resurrected believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups are exhorted to recognize that every human being is the Image of God, striving to become and manifest the Likeness of God in human flesh (Genesis 1:26-31). By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, witnesses' lives are controlled by and unified in Christ-centered worship, service, caring, teaching, healing, spiritual formation and agape love, within witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Conclusion
Are you an active and tithing (freely sharing your time, thoughts, talents, treasure and tithe) member of your witnessing paschal faith community? Are you steadfastly following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal mystery, the new life in Christ, the mind of the Spirit? Are you committed to laying down living your life in the inappropriate dominion of left brain hemisphere thinking and behavior? Are you steadfast and faithful in taking up living you life in the appropriate and acceptable dominion of the mind of the spirit, as a sweet smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God (Mark 8:31-34, John 10:14-21, Ephesians 5:1-2)?
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Season of Pentecost, Proper 14
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