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March 16, 2008 - Palm Sunday
- 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.
-- Philippians 2:5-11
This week brings us to the conclusion of the season of Lent. On Sunday we enter
into the most holy of weeks as we shout “Hosanna”, offering praise to the humble king
Jesus who rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus could have easily taken advantage of
his equality with God, but instead embraced his full humanity all the way to his death.
The Apostle Paul encourages us to be “of the same mind”. Embracing our full humanity
means not to be perfect or “super people”, but to live into our limitations and
forgiveness. Embracing our full humanity offers a life of humility and obedience to God's
plan for our life and for the world. Embracing our full humanity accepts and welcomes
God's love for us, and enables us to love one another.
We pray: Sovereign God, you have established your rule in the human heart
through the servanthood of Jesus Christ. By your Spirit, keep us in the joyful procession
of those who with their tongues confess Jesus as Lord and with their lives praise him
as Savior, Amen
Lessons for Palm Sunday:
- Psalm 31:9-16
- Isaiah 50:4-9a
- Philippians 2:5-11
- Matthew 21:1-17, 26:1-16
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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