Palm Sunday 13-4-2025 – Phil 2.5-11, Luke 22.14 – 23.56
Phil 2.5-8 Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 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.
Our study group last Tuesday was deeply struck by these words from the Philippians hymn that we just heard read to us this morning.
The Creator and giver of Life empties himself of all power, eternity and majesty – lets go of it. And instead, takes up a simple, mortal existence. And today we see him give up even that; give up even the simple, mortal life that remains to him, in order to ensure our life; my life, your life.
Jesus is the Lord of Life; the Creator. Yet from his own lips in the Passion Gospel, we heard him say just now that he chooses utter humility. And that’s what he wants the powerful among us to do too. In our time of even more than usually hubristic leaders, his words send a very special message to our world.
Luke 22.25-27 The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over those people are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Jesus put himself at the mercy of all the arrogance and self-delusion of humans who wielded power and absorbed it in his loving humility, exposing its emptiness for all to see. Then he took it with him to the Cross so it should die with him.
His call to his disciples – and they would soon wield great authority – his call to them and to us was always to take the role of the new kid on the block. To work from a posture of humility; to live naïve in the strength of his love. Most of all, he called those of us who are given any authority to let go of the delusion that it gives us any rights or privileges. Instead, he calls us to take hold of the responsibility it lays on us to love humbly. To turn to the sinner on a friendly, neighbouring cross and tell them how they can also be with Christ in paradise today. Amen