AS YOU THINK was a weekly religious program that was broadcast several years ago on WOR Radio. It was hosted by a Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of New York.

 

When I first started listening to the program, I wasn’t sure why it was called AS YOU THINK. After tuning in for several weeks, I began to understand the meaning behind the program’s name. It was the priest’s contention that how we think influences how we act—what is in our minds gives birth to our actions. “As you think so shall you be.”

 

I later learned that this idea, though new to me, did not originate with the program. It had been around for many years. In fact, Jesus said something similar in the Gospel of Matthew when he spoke of what came out of the heart: “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy” (Matthew 15:19). For the Jewish people, the heart, not the mind, was the center of thought and decision. That is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the clean of heart for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).

 

Since actions flow from our thoughts, we need to be careful of what we allow into our minds and hearts.

 

Saint Paul certainly was aware of that. For this reason, he warned the Christians at Philippi to allow only what was honorable, just, good, and true to have a place in their thoughts.

 

As he wrote in Sunday’s Second Reading (Philippians 4:6-9), “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Paul realized that having positive, decent thoughts in mind would lead the Philippians to live as faithful followers of Christ.

 

That advice of Saint Paul is particularly appropriate today. We live in a world where our minds can easily be filled with thoughts, ideas, and beliefs contrary to the Gospel.

 

Today’s entertainment industry glorifies violence and promiscuous behavior. Social media promotes a self-centered way of life, where looks and status determine a person’s value. The advertising industry continually tells us that we never have enough. Secular thinkers proclaim that there is no such thing as objective truth and morality, that each person determines what is true and what is good. Prominent politicians preach that abortion is a human right and one’s sex is a choice not a fact. There are influencers who mock religion and traditional families, and view children as obstacles to success.

 

If we allow these ideas and opinions that are flooding our society to seep into our minds, it will not be long before we find ourselves acting and behaving in ways that contradict the Gospel and weaken our relationship with Christ and his Church.

Each time we come to Mass, each time we read the Scriptures, each time we pray, and each time we gather with our fellow Catholics, we give the Lord the opportunity to fill our minds with the thoughts and ideas that St. Paul urged the Philippians to think about.

 

This Sunday, Paul urges us to be careful of the ideas and thoughts that we allow to live in our minds. AS YOU THINK, SO SHALL YOU BE.

 

© 2026 Rev. Thomas Iwanowski