BECOMING CHRIST-LIKE

Return to God’s word. Allow it to transform you. Notice how your faith is being deepened and your way of life motivated.

Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

COMMENTS

We end our reflection on this passage from Philippians just as we head into holy week.  On Palm Sunday, we begin by acclaiming “Hosanna!” and then quickly move to shouting “Crucify Him!”  We witness the dramatic entrance of a king – the ends with the humiliating death of a criminal.  “…He emptied himself.”

The Paschal Triduum is filled with images of Jesus emptying himself.  As we enter into this sacred season, I feel myself being called to truly enter into the Triduum liturgies.  To spend time reflecting on the readings.  To spend time praying the collects and prayers.  This is truly an opportunity for me to open myself and find where God is ask me to empty myself.

How are you called to become more Christ-like in this passage?

Chase M. Becker

© And Every Tongue Should Confess, Suzanne Moore, 2004. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.