Fr. Patrick's Weekly Column

9/27/2026

Dear Friends,

In the second reading this Sunday Saint Paul encourages us to adopt the mind of Christ. He inserts in his letter the “Philippian Hymn” or what biblical scholars call the "Kenosis hymn." It is an early Christian hymn that was known among Christian communities at the time Saint Paul wrote the letter. The word "Kenosis," comes from the Greek root “kenoo”, which means "to empty." It recounts how Jesus emptied Himself of His divine attributes to assume our human nature. The hymn follows the narrative of the Incarnation, His humiliation, His death on the Cross and His exaltation. It sings of Jesus as the suffering servant who emptied Himself out of love for His Father and for humanity, to be our servant and lead us to glory. Saint Paul introduces the hymn with these words: “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is found in Jesus Christ.” This is the model Saint Paul holds before us to put on the mind of Christ: not acting out of selfishness or a sense of self-importance but serving our fellow Christians with humility and charity. This is the path to glory. Yes, Jesus emptied Himself and was exalted. This hymn is prayed by the Passionist Congregation as we begin morning and evening prayer praying its final stanza:   

At the name of Jesus every Knee shall bend,

 in heaven on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God, the Father.

Today’s Gospel and Parable of the “Two Sons” follows the question Jesus asked the Chief priests and elders after they asked him by what authority he was teaching in the Temple area. “First tell me, where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” Of course, they refused to answer because they were trapped and the parable exposes them. In the Parable a man says to each of his two sons to go and work in his vineyard. The first says “I will not” but later changes his mind and goes. The second says “yes sir” but did not go. Who did the father’s will? The answer is obvious. Jesus says, “Amen, I say to you tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you.” The first son represents the most notorious sinners of the time—tax collectors and prostitutes—who initially resisted serving in the Lord’s vineyard, the Kingdom. Yet, through the preaching of John the Baptist, they repented and did what was right and just. The second son represents the Chief priests and elders who had the law and by taking office said they would serve God. However, when God sent the prophet John calling all to repent, they did not believe him. It is implied that if they refuse to repent, they will be left out of the kingdom.

The leaders of Israel lacked humility and charity: In their vainglory, they presumed their own superiority, assuming they no longer needed to listen to God’s Prophet or His Word. But that is the path of death, as God tells Ezekiel today. We must continually empty ourselves, seeking forgiveness when we sin and confessing, on bended knee, that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father. 

Fr. Patrick, C.P.