The Risk of Obedience

The readings this week have a common theme of the risk in obeying and following our Lord. We move toward Palm Sunday when we will once again journey with Jesus through his Passion. The decision to give his life for the salvation of the world was not easy; Jesus needed the certainty that this was the will of God. Isaiah and the psalmist describe being treated with contempt, beaten, and rejected. In reciting the earliest known Christian hymn, Paul in Philippians emphasizes how Christ surrenders his glory and is subjected to humiliation and death. Even when the reasons and teachings of our Lord are logical or valid, they require a leap of faith and personal acceptance, not without risk. If Jesus trusted and gave himself, we can do so too.

Read Psalm 31:9-16. It is said that fear warns of possible dangers. When have you experienced fear? What was the result of your experience?
Read Isaiah 50:4-9a. What specific, special tasks (small or large) do you feel that the Lord has given you?
Read Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus invites us to adopt an attitude of humility. When have you accepted this invitation? When have you failed to be humble?
Read Matthew 21:1-11. Where are you in the Palm Sunday story? How do you respond to Jesus as he enters?