Speak Lord: humble and reigning Lord

His state was divine,
yet Christ Jesus did not cling
to his equality with God
but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave
and became as men are;
and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
But God raised him high
and gave him the name
which is above all other names
so that all beings
in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11

This Canticle is one we hear as our Second reading at Mass tomorrow. And it reappears in one form or another again and again in Holy Week.

It offers a very simple, very affective, account of the Paschal Mystery  – Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

It draws us into a fresh appreciation of this – and invites us to honour Christ anew, and know once more the power of he himself and his work for our lives.

A perfect introduction to Holy Week…

• For what will you pray this Holy Week?
• What steps might you take to free yourself to take full part in the Liturgies of this Great Week?

Stained Glass. Holy Trinity, Stratford upon Avon. (c) 2016, Allen Morris.