We are familiar with the Jamaican proverb “Humble calf drink the most milk” – which conveys the meaning that those that are humble reap the greatest rewards.

The New Testament reading for today (Philippians 2: 5 -11) begins with the words “Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus ……” This reading is considered one of the most poetic pictures of humility, suffering and sacrifice in the New Testament.

Paul, in writing to “all God’s people in Christ Jesus at Philippi”, sought to en- courage them to abandon an ambition–driven, arrogant, narcissistic model of leadership, and adopt leadership and lives that encourage servanthood, compassion and humility. Paul envisions the life of the community being formed by the mind of Christ – a spirit of humility and loving service to one another, rather than competition and grasping for power and control.

So does our life in community reflect the same mind that was in Christ? As we live out our lives, are we looking out for the interests of others rather than our own? Are humility and servanthood evident among us?

It becomes possible for us to demonstrate humility once we have an example. That is what has been done for us in Christ Jesus crucified. In him, we have a visible example of pure love, pure service, pure humility. “He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 8) He has shown us what it looks like when we put aside our own self–interest to do something for others. Even with Christ’s example, we won’t be able to do things perfectly – but with the help of the triune God, we can get better and better at bringing our lives into congruence with Christ’s life.

We know that the Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God at work in the world to accomplish God’s work. The Spirit frees us to have “the mind of Christ” – a freedom to love God and love others. We are freed for a pattern of life that reflects the pattern of God’s self-giving love and humility in Jesus Christ.

Let us today, during this Holy Week, and in our daily lives, invite the Holy Spirit, who empowers us for life in community, to protect us from pride and arrogance and endow us with humility and the milk of human kindness so that, like the humble calf of Jamaican proverbial history, we too can “drink the most milk’’– we can drink of the confident humility and servanthood represented in the person of Jesus Christ.