| Readings: | At the Blessing of the Palms: Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14—27:66 |
| Date: | March 29, 2026 - Passion (Palm) Sunday - Cycle A |
Our Gospel reading of the Passion according to Matthew was a long and meaningful Gospel. As we travel this week towards the cross and beyond, I would encourage each of you to read it again, at least one more time this week when you can make half and hour or an hour free to spend some time with it. So that when you read it, you can stop and reflect on whatever grabs your attention.
I would like to just spend a much shorter time reflecting with you on our second reading today: the wonderful hymn from the second chapter of the letter to the Philippians. It is one of my favorite scripture passages and during Lent it is part of Evening Prayer I on Saturday evenings so those of us who pray the liturgy of the Hours get to experience it every week in Lent.
Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!
First Jesus emptied himself of being in the form of God, and took human form. Then he emptied himself even of that on the cross, and then went even further and emptied himself of his connection with the Father in his descent into Hell. And he did all of this out of love. This taking on the form of a slave, while an act of self emptying, is not something that is demeaning. It is a sign, a symbol of what true love is, and moreover, an invitation for each of us, and all of us together as one, to participate in this true love. When we read the account of the Last Supper from the Gospel of John, we hear that Jesus took the form of the lowest of slaves when he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the feet of all the disciples, including Judas' feet. Then he asks the disciple if they understood what he had just done. He had given them an example of what it means to love, and that his disciples, which includes us, should do the same to one another.
So along with re-reading the passion we just heard, I would pray today that you would also reflect on the example that Jesus has given us. We are be servants to one another, and by being servant, I mean to follow Jesus in emptying ourselves for one another. This self emptying is what it means to be a spouse or a parent, or untimately how we are to live out any relationship we have, including with our enemies. Our second reading reassures us that by doing this, and only by doing this, will we fully share in Jesus. We will share not only in his suffering and death, but in his resurrection and exaltation by the Father. By reflecting on this beautiful hymn, I pray we come to Easter ready to fully answer Yes! to that question Jesus asks us:
Do you understand what I have done for you?