Our first reading at Mass this week is taken mostly from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, which he wrote from imprisonment, either in Rome, Ephesus or Caesaria. During his ministry Paul had his share in being imprisoned, as his letters and the Acts of the Apostles mention, and that experience and others like it caused him to see his own suffering in the light of the sufferings of Christ.

He advised the Philippians–and us as well– to do the same thing:
“For to you has been granted, for the sake of Christ, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him.Yours is the same struggle as you saw in me and now hear about me.” (Philippians 1, 29-39)

Have the same mind that is in Christ Jesus, Paul writes in an important passage, probably quoting an early Christian hymn, which we read on Monday:

“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,”
Who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those 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. (Philippians 2, 6-10)

Paul looks upon the sufferings of Christ, not by way of speculation but, first of all, to understand his own experience. For the same reason this passage from Philippians is found frequently in the liturgy of the hours, the church’s prayer for everyday– each Sunday at evening prayer, at evening prayer on Christmas, on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and in the prayers for the dead.

Each day we’re called to have the mind of Jesus Christ, to follow him in our human likeness, to accept the cross that’s ours, to become like him till death, and then to share in his glory. Commentators on the Letter to the Philippians call it a “Letter of Joy.” That’s what following Jesus Christ should bring us.That’s what Jesus promised those who follow him.