Consolation from love

0:06

Hino Cristologico

Juliano Ravanello

Today is Sunday the 27th of September, beginning the 26th week of Ordinary Time.

Today’s music is Hino Cristológico by Juliano Ravanello - a meditation on the scripture passage we will hear today:

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 servant,

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.

As you listen allow the music to lead you into the presence of Christ. Ask for the grace to become more like him: willing to listen, ready to serve and able to recognise the dignity of every person.

4:57

Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 2:1-11

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in 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 [servant],

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 also 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.

7:09

Paul begins here with the hope that his audience, the Christians of Philippi, will remain united, but recognises that this is challenging. With which groups or communities do you need to do all that it takes to maintain unity, if you are to follow God’s call faithfully?

The first part of the poem that follows sees Jesus, even though he is Son of God, allowing himself to be humbled for our sake. He takes this to extremes, to accepting a painful and humiliating death. What does this mean to you, and how do you want to respond?

In the second part of the poem, by contrast, God the Father raises Jesus back up for our worship. What in turn does this mean to you, and how do you want to respond?

As the passage is read again, notice how the example of Christ in the poem links to the plea for unity that the passage began with.

10:31

Philippians 2:1-11

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in 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 [servant],

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 also 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.

12:30

Paul invites us here to “share the mind that was in Christ Jesus”. Speak with Jesus now about what you yourself need to be able to do this.

14:23

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen