The Great Equalizer

A Reflection on the Second Reading for April 14th, 2019:
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

​Philippians 2.6-11
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Christ Jesus, 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.

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We don’t regard ourselves as equal to God, however, we need to know that Jesus is both God and man and He is the Great Equalizer. We are all His sons and daughters/brothers and sisters in Christ. He suffered and died for all. As equals in the sight of Jesus, we are called to imitate His life by giving up our life for the good of others.

When I come before the Lord, His gaze empties me of all my false delusions of being anything but His humble servant. All false pride melts away. My ego is subdued, my true self emerges. I am His most precious daughter—completely vulnerable and humbled in my need for Jesus.
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I imagine Jesus, and what He must have been feeling knowing He was about to face the most humiliating and excruciating death. I am in awe of how He not only surrendered Himself to His Father’s will, but He did so out of His love for us. He wants our salvation and He is willing to die for it, for me, for all of us. No wonder every knee shall bend and every head shall bow in His name.

I thank you Jesus for Your obedience, for Your sacrifice, for Your complete surrender. Since You came to show us the way, I would dishonour You if I would do anything less than to pick up my cross and follow Your example.

"Since You came to show us the way, I would dishonour You if I would do anything less than to pick up my cross and follow Your example."

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Help us Lord to die to self so as to live for others; to die to seeing fault in others, so as to build them up; to die to gossip, so as to affirm Your presence in them; to die to self-indulgence, so as to spend our time, money, and talents on what gives glory to You. Help us to live our lives in gratitude for all that You have bestowed upon us. 

I bow my head as I kneel before you Lord, in all humility and grace, knowing You are pleased with my desire to love and to serve You. I pray that You will bless my desire and increase it, as I continue to surrender and unite my life with Yours. Amen.

Patricia Cosgrove

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