“He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

Over the past several weeks, we have sat with this verse, reflecting on Christ’s self-emptying love, His obedience, His humility, and His invitation to each of us to live not for ourselves, but for others. We have explored how this verse comes alive through the Church’s teachings, through the witness of the saints, and in our own concrete acts of faith and service. We’ve seen how obedience isn’t passive but active, how humility is not weakness but strength, and how the Cross is not only a symbol of salvation but a pattern for daily discipleship.

This Sunday’s Gospel, the story of the rich man and Lazarus, offers a final and piercing challenge. The rich man is not condemned for what he did, but for what he failed to do. Lazarus lay at his door, and he stepped over him. The Cross invites us not only to belief, but to action, to live with eyes open and hearts willing. The prophet Amos also warns those who live in comfort while the poor suffer: “Woe to the complacent.” These readings underscore all we’ve learned this month. Faith in the crucified Christ is not real unless it becomes compassion, unless it moves us to love in visible, practical ways.

As we conclude our series on Philippians 2:8, we also celebrate the Feast of the Archangels- Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael- with special attention to our patron, St. Michael the Archangel. His name means “Who is like God?” a question not of defiance, but of awe-filled humility. St. Michael’s very identity is grounded in obedience, not pride. Though often depicted as a warrior, early Christians saw him more as a healer, a protector of the vulnerable, and one who accompanies the dying. He was invoked for the sick and the poor long before he was called upon in battle.

The Church’s liturgy captures something essential about St. Michael’s hidden role. In Eucharistic Prayer I, the priest prays: “In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high…” Tradition holds this angel to be St. Michael. The scene is striking, not of battle, but of worship. St. Michael humbly serving at the altar, bearing the Body and Blood of Christ to the heavenly throne. He models what true spiritual strength looks like: obedience, humility, and worship.

As members of St. Michael Parish, this is our identity too. Yes, we are called to defend the faith, but not with arrogance or anger. We are called to humble obedience. We are called to care for the sick, the dying, the forgotten. We are called to Eucharistic devotion, to lift up our hearts and our lives with the sacrifice of Christ. Let us honor our patron not only in name, but in imitation. This week, as we look back on all we have heard and seen through this verse, may we take up the Cross anew with hearts like St. Michael’s: humble, obedient, and ready to serve.