Everything I Need

A Reflection on the Second Reading for April 2, 2023:
Passion (Palm) Sunday

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Philippians
2.6-11

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 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.

Jesus wasn’t proud. 

He didn’t consider Himself better than anyone – He just knew that His purpose was to point us all toward God. He didn’t deny that He was the Son of God, but He didn’t do anything to save His own life because He knew God would provide. 

Sometimes, I’m proud. 

I can easily fall into the trap of comparing myself to others, and my pride can be either buoyed or deflated depending on what I find. I can wrongly assume that my own experience is the only possibility, and fail to make space for others.

To deny oneself to the degree that Jesus did seems to be a miracle in and of itself to me. But the truth is, if I ask Him, God will provide me, too, with the grace and healing required to do it. The ability to empty myself, to give without ambition or conceit, depends on how I see myself – and that is either as a beloved child of God, or as someone who relies on earthly, material assurance of my worth.

It makes total sense that if all I know is earthly assurance, or worse, earthly rejection, then my pride will grow as I seek and strive to earn what my heart needs here in this life. But I am slowly learning and trusting the blessed reassurance of God’s love for me, and that Jesus is God in the flesh, come to show me that all will be well. This is what will ultimately allow me to be free to discover my purpose and live, empty of myself, for Him. For Love. To the glory of God the Father, who provides everything I need.




Lindsay Elford

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