The Holy Spirit Gives Us the Mind of Jesus

In the 1974 movie Young Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) is trying to create life. He asks Igor (Marty Feldman) to get a brain for his “monster.” Igor returns and Dr. Frankenstein places it in his monster. Later, when his monster is not up to par intellectually, the doctor goes berserk. He learns that Igor gave him the brain from “Abby Normal.”  The monster knows a world different than the one he lives in.

Igor Selecting an Incorrect Mind

 

The monster has to be retrained. Fire scares him. He frustrates easily. He has to be taught to walk. His words are mere monosyllabic grunts. It is quite evident that the monster has the mind of “Abby Normal.”

 

Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

 

St. Paul has written to the Christians at Corinth. Corinth was a very rich port city, and, given its proximity to Athens, its citizens held a wealth of knowledge. Paul tells them that the wisdom he is preaching is far more valuable than the worldly knowledge they have. That wisdom, Paul continues, comes to them because they are filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

We too, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and it benefits us in many ways.

 

We can understand God’s Word. We can understand who Jesus was (and is). We can understand that his death forgives our sins. We can also understand that his resurrection gives us eternal life in a world  superior to, and far richer than, the world that we currently inhabit.

 

While we may have some knowledge of this world, the Holy Spirit enables us to know a world different than the one we live in. That world is the spiritual world and it ultimately leads to Heaven.

 

In a sense, the Holy Spirit retrains us. The fire from Satan does not scare us. We have patience and do not frustrate easily. We are taught to walk in the light. And we are able to speak words to others that testify that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

Unlike the monster, we have a functioning earthly mind. However, it is quite evident that the Holy Spirit gives us the mind of Christ as well.