Letting Go Into the Mystery

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Proper 18, the week of the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrase for reflection from today’s reading:

4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.

You will find the full text of today’s Philippians reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 982)

AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]

1 Kings 17:1-24; Phil. 2:1-11; Matt. 2:1-12

Today we celebrate the Feast of Alexander Crummell. (See below.)

David's Reflections

The earliest followers of Jesus regarded him as another human being like themselves.  His opponents reacted to him as to a human being.  It was only after the resurrection that the plot of the Jesus story became more clear and that the fuller significance of his identity became obvious.  His followers, those Jewish believers, were strict monotheists, and they continued to regard Jesus as fully human.  But they came to see also that God's presence in his life was unique and they began to ascribe deity to him.  That was no small step for strictly monotheistic Jews who rejected the polytheism and idolatry of Gentile paganism in the strongest terms. You can see the beginnings of Trinitarian thinking within the New Testament even though the word does not occur. (See, for example, Matt. 28:20; Jn. 14:15-21; 2 Cor. 13:13).

Here Paul calls the Philippians to genuine servanthood.  He points to  Jesus as the supreme model; Jesus stepped aside from a heavenly existence with God and accepted the constraints of a fully human existence for our sakes.  The key verse is 2:5, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus."

Actually, the pronoun in the original Greek is plural and should read "among yourselves."  I would translate something like,  "Have this mind among yourself which you experience in Christ Jesus."  Paul was not calling on the Philippians to imitate the historical Jesus.  Rather, he urged them to allow the servant mind of the Christ who lives within the community and within each individual to permeate their church experience.

What an image of a community of Christians!  We gather for worship and fellowship and we listen for Jesus' presence.  We experience together Christ’s Spirit welling up among us and impelling us to serve one another and the world around us.  We focus on the needs of others more so than focusing on having our own needs met. We experience Christ’s ongoing renewing and transforming presence in the mysteries of bread and wine.

We are free to let go into Christ in that way because we can trust that our own needs will be met without our putting them on the front burner of our personal ambitions.  Exercising personal power by coercion or subtle control to get what we want becomes unnecessary when such trust in God's love empowers us to let go as Jesus did, to let go of everything for the sake of serving God and others. In that letting go we welcome the Spirit of Christ to do that unique divine work in and through us that will prove far more meaningful that any solutions we can create for ourselves.

As Van Morrison sings in his pop song “The Mystery”:

Let go into the mystery

Let yourself go.

When you open up your heart

You get everything you need.

Baby, there's a way and a mystic road.

You've got to have some faith to carry on.+

+Van Morrison, album. Poetic Champions Compose. (Exile Productions, 1987)

Collect of the Day, Proper 18, the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen  (BCP, 233)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Alexander Crummell, priest, educator, missionary (died

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

In Times of Personal Distress

Lord Christ, you came into the world as one of us, and suffered as we do. As we go through the trials of life, help us to realize that you are with us at all times and in all things; that we have no secrets from you; and that your loving grace enfolds us for eternity. In the security of your embrace we pray. Amen.  (Enriching Our Worship: 2, p. 69)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Epistle, Philippians 2:1-11

2:1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer 

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer 

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer