Passion Sunday Palm Sunday

PASSION SUNDAY/PALM SUNDAY

God’s Glory Revealed

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 slave, being born in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7

Precisely when Jesus is being handed over into his passion, he manifests his glory. “Whom do you seek?...I am he” are words that echo all the way back to Moses and the burning bush: “I am who I am. I am the one” (see Exodus 3:1-6. 14). These words are the glory of God manifesting itself, and those present fell flat on the ground. Then Jesus was handed over. But already in the handing over we see the glory of God handing himself over to us. God’s glory revealed in Jesus embraces passion as well as resurrection. “The Son of Man,” Jesus says, “must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14, 15). He is lifted up as a passive victim, making the cross a sign of desolation. And he is lifted up in glory, so the cross becomes at the same time a sign of hope. Suddenly we realize that the glory of God, the divinity of God, is bursting through in Jesus’ passion precisely when he is most victimized.

Lord Jesus, help us to share your view of the world, especially when we suffer injustice.

Henri J. M. Nouwen

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