Palm/Passion Sunday-
Have THIS Mind Among You
First, the beginning of one of the most awesome of scriptures Paul has left us:

Philippians 2:1-5 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

It is so true. That is what Christ has called us to. It is the meaning, I am sure, of "following Jesus."

As I was surfing some of my favorite lectionary sites, I came across Dan Clendenin's wonderful and challenging site, The Journey With Jesus. His opening page, based on the Philippians passage, was an open letter- challenge- to President Bush. Here's a quote:

Even though you must represent the interests of all American citizens, you can not, and should not, compartmentalize your personal faith and public service. I think your identity as a Christian who follows the "Prince of Peace" can and should redound to the good of all peoples and every nation, and not merely to American self-interest or to Christians. Having said that, to me there is a stark contrast between Paul's hymn that asks us to imitate Christ's humility, and the policies, tenor, and actions of your administration....

This Palm Sunday Christians worship a king who entered Jerusalem "gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Matthew 21:5). ... I invite you as our president and as a Christian to join us in Lenten self-reflection that in Paul's letter to the Philippians calls us to imitate Jesus in his subversive humility. Thank you.
--Link to the whole letter.

With that in mind, ponder the rest of the passage and consider how any of us can follow Jesus this Holy Week.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.