PALM SUNDAY - 2004

After the long and dramatic reading of the Passion, it would be hard to remember the second reading, much less the very first line of that reading. "Put on the mind of Jesus Christ."   It is said that if the entire New Testament was lost, and just the six or seven verses of the Second Reading were saved, we would have the gist of the whole Christian Message:



1. Jesus was before all time with the Father.
2. We move to Bethlehem: - he became flesh for us all
3. Then to Galilee where he preached the good news.
4 From there to Calvary where he died for us
5 Finally to the Garden of Olives where he Rose from the Dead.
That is all we need to know and
that is the heart of the Easter Message and
every I Believe that we say.

So how do we put on the Mind of Jesus Christ. Perhaps we should read the Passion according to Luke in our own private time to know Jesus better - and perhaps read it aloud. We will see certain qualities of Jesus which Luke recorded which are not mentioned by any of the other Gospel writers. Then again the "mind of Jesus" which you and I understand will be different because our own hearts and our own minds look at people and events differently.

To me, Jesus appears as a healer and reconciler, constantly thinking of others even when he was in pain and suffering. Others see Jesus  as a 'wise man' whose self-control, freedom from fear and courage was a model to his followers. Still others see him as a righteous man, innocent of any crime, generous to his persecutors. How do you see him - when you know that 

Of all the evangelists,
1. Luke alone tells us of Jesus' generosity by healing the ear of the high priest's servant.
2. Luke alone tells us of Jesus' words of comfort to the women of Jerusalem:
3. Luke alone records "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
4 Luke alone records his offer to the good thief of a place in paradise; and
5 Luke alone gives us his last words on the Cross -
Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit  - a cry which shows him not powerless but the righteous man willingly accepting his death.

Each of these pictures helps me to put on the "mind of Christ" and respond to people and events with the control, generosity, healing power of Jesus - at least I hope I do.