Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
DEVOTIONAL: My reading of Philippians 2:5-11 was deepened by Johannes Baptist Metz’s book, Poverty of Spirit, which is a meditation on this passage. Metz illuminates how several major heresies about the nature of Jesus attempt to deny Jesus’ humanity; so too, Metz observes, we seek to evade, ignore and reject our own humanity.
I find Metz’s account to be a perceptive indictment. Rather than embrace my humanity I am often impatient with myself, critical of my intelligence (or lack thereof), embarrassed by my physical characteristics, annoyed by how much sleep I need and hurrying to finish tasks which I falsely assumed I could finish quicker. I desire to be superhuman and my attitude is far from Christ’s attitude, who, “though he was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born of human estate.” Jesus’ example is beyond me; though he controls the universe he lets go. Meanwhile I find myself craving more certainty, more control, in short, more divinity and less humanity. Of course, I hit a wall, and despair sets in.
I find Lent to be the most valuable time of year, as it reminds me of who I am and where I come from. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, as I receive ashes, I am reminded that “I am from dust and to dust I shall return,” through Good Friday, when Jesus “became obedient to death, even death on a cross,” I am awestruck by Jesus’ embrace of my humanity.
Quoting poet Girard Manley Hopkins I occasionally catch a glimpse that:
“I am all at once what Christ is,
since he was what I am, and
This Jack, joke, poor potsherd,
patch, matchwood, immortal diamond,
Is immortal diamond.”
And despair and grasping melt away.
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.