Scripture Readings
Link to Facebook photos taken during Mass
In this suffering servant song Isaiah expresses the despondency of an exiled people apparently deserted by their God. But it is they who have fallen away. God has not gone back on his promise to them, and he will come to their help. But they must turn back to him and put all their trust in him, in spite of their sufferings. Christians applied this song to Jesus remaining faithful to his Father throughout his passion.
Paul pleaded for unity among the Philippians, who were divided by rivalry and personal vanity. Paul urged them to “do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather humbly regard others as more important than yourselves”. This hymn rejoices that, unlike Adam, Jesus did not try to be equal to God. Instead his crucifixion gives us the supreme example of faith and unselfish love. Therefore he was raised to new life, as those who follow his example will be also.
It is worth listening carefully for some of the differences in Luke’s description of Jesus’ passion. At the Last Supper Jesus shares the cup with his disciples twice, speaking of “the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you”. Luke inserts here the argument among his disciples about who is the greatest, for Jesus to insist that the greatest is “the one who serves”.
Psalm Response: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
(Isaiah 50:4-7;Psalm 21;Phil 2:6-11;Luke 22:14-23:56)
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