THE MIND OF CHRIST—THAT'S THE SPIRIT

The flip side of this coin of negative emotions is that positive emotions like love, joy, or hope can benefit both our emotional and bodily health. More importantly, they can upgrade our spiritual health by disposing us to receive the Spirit's grace-activated virtues and gifts to enhance our character, prayer life, and spiritual youth. As the Thomistic theological axiom puts it, "Grace builds on nature.”

For instance, as we grow in love, joy, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit, Christ-like thought patterns are engendered. "Remain in my love... that 'my joy may be in you," Jesus says (Jn 15:9, Il). "My peace I give you" (Jn 14:27). And Paul urges us to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Col 3:15), We know that these Christic thought patterns are attainable for those who are being made holy," as the Ietter to Hebrews calls us. The same passage continues: "The Holy Spirit testifies... 'l will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds" (Heb 10:14-16). When emotions and thoughts are grace-suffused, they are uplifted, that we so that we begin to “think with the mind of Christ" (I Cor 2:16).

A rock can be a stepping stone or a stumbling block. The sun can soften wax or harden clay; heat can soften a potato or harden an egg. A grindstone can either polish a stone or grind it to dust. Likewise, our thoughts can be either a help or a hindrance to us spiritually, depending on our spiritual focus. “The mind of the sinful man is death," Paul reminds us, "but the mind controlled by the Spirit is and peace" (Rom 8:6). And this peace which comes from the Spirit secures our thoughts and emotions, for "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:7).

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.