Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
April 10, 2022
“Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, he humbled himself becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross... That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
St. Paul's letter, probably an early Christian hymn, sets the tone for we who wish to know the Lord, accept His grace, and live fully our Christian lives. Take a minute to review some of these poignant words... He did not hold on to godhead, but reached out to us...He did not give just something of Himself, but emptied, until the last drop of His blood...identified with our humanity, except for sin, and died a horrible death by crucifixion.
As I begin this Holy Week, how do I respond? Do I want to grasp Him, cling to Him? How much of myself do I wish to give in return for His total giving for me? Will this Holy Week find me uniting my suffering and pain to that of Jesus who continues to suffer in persecuted Christians, the poor and marginalized?
As Cardinal Tobin wrote, the passion of Christ continues today, and immigrants are the actors.
by Rev. William J. Reilly