Isaiah’s beautiful description of his vocation could serve as a call for all Christians and people of faith: a gift from God, the willingness of people to use that gift, and the fortitude to withstand hardship.

Throughout Holy Week we catch glimpses of the merciful Father in whom Jesus put the steeliest kind of trust. We see this mercy in the meal Jesus transforms from a simple supper to an everlasting promise of life.

Jesus sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.”

Christians often assume that “passion” is the word for the suffering and anguish of Jesus’ death. However, the word first describes something felt deeply, powerfully, almost absolutely.

As we begin the remembrance of our Lord’s Passion, we call to mind the sins from which he saves us.

The reading from Philippians proclaimed on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord makes up one of the better-known passages from Saint Paul’s epistles.

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. —Saint Augustine (354-430)