“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.

“He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) This powerful verse from St. Paul has guided our reflection throughout the month of September, drawing us into the mystery of Christ’s obedient love, His self-emptying on the Cross, and the call to follow Him along that same path. But what does it actually look like to live this verse? Not just to admire or pray with it, but to let it shape our choices, actions, and way of life in concrete, daily ways?

“He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) This verse from St. Paul unveils the very heart of our faith: the radical, self-emptying love of Christ, made visible in His obedience to the point of death. The Catechism reminds us that “by his obedience unto death, Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth” (CCC 541), and in that act, “transformed the curse of death into a blessing” (CCC 1009). Death, once the ultimate sign of defeat, has become through Christ the doorway to life, love, and eternal communion with God. His surrender has opened for us the path to salvation, not by escaping suffering, but by transforming it from within.

Our children are hard at work preparing for a Bake Sale to support CGS!

The next collection will be for Shirley's Barn at Togus Pond.

The Parish collection for the United Community Living Center in Augusta, which serves the homeless, produced 619 rolls of toilet paper and 219 rolls of papers towels.

Good Afternoon Friends - August was a busy month for all our Food Ministry Programs; breakfast, supper and the vegetable garden. THANK YOU for volunteering, for putting your faith into action, to help in our programs to feed our friends and neighbors in need.

“He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) The Church Fathers recognized in this verse a profound revelation of divine humility: the eternal Word descending freely into the depths of human suffering, not from obligation, but out of pure love. St. John Chrysostom reflected that Christ’s humility was not merely in becoming man, but in embracing the most degrading and shameful death- a crucifixion reserved for criminals and slaves. He called this “the excess of humility,” a phrase that captures the boundless love Christ poured out for humanity. Many early Christians, inspired by this mystery, were drawn to lives of asceticism and obedience, not as passive resignation but as courageous self-surrender. For the Fathers of the Church, humility was never weakness; it was a form of strength- the strength to choose love over pride, sacrifice over comfort, and truth over self.