Meditation: Philippians 2:6-11

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

He emptied himself. (Philippians 2:7)

On this special grace-filled day, let’s spend some time dwelling on this one simple verse from today’s second reading. What did St. Paul mean when he said that Jesus “emptied himself”?

First, Paul tells us that Jesus has always been God. He wasn’t created in the image and likeness of God, as we have been. No, he enjoyed “equality with God” (Philippians 2:6). And yet he chose to become a man. He emptied himself of all the “benefits” he had in heaven. By taking on a human body, he submitted to physical limitations. He knew hunger, tiredness, and pain. He accepted the limitation of being in one place at a time. He who once enjoyed the praise of the angels in heaven now relied on prayer himself to discern his Father’s will.

Jesus went even further than that. He chose not to come as a powerful king with many servants, a palatial home, and a mighty army. Instead, he was born into a poor, simple family. He became a tradesman in a humble little village in occupied territory. He owned very little. Even his tomb was borrowed!

Jesus gave up everything—and he did it for us. He came from heaven to earth so that we could go from earth to heaven. He was hated so that we could know love. He was condemned so that we could be pardoned. He died so that we could have eternal life. In every way, he emptied himself so that we could be filled.

Now Jesus is asking us to become like him. He is asking us to choose to serve rather than to be served. He is asking us to humble ourselves and care for the Church, the poor, and the needy. May we never forget what Jesus did for us on the cross. May the love and humility of his own self-emptying move us to ask how we can give more of ourselves to him and his people.

“Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice of love! Teach me to love other people as deeply as you have loved me.”

Luke 19:28-40
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Luke 22:14–23:56