He Emptied Himself

The Passion of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew is the dominant feature of today’s Mass. It should be because it is the culmination of Jesus’ life and work for our salvation and prepares us to celebrate Christ’s self-gift, throughout this week.

Philippians 2:5-11

But consider with me today the brief passage from ‘Philippians’

It’s very familiar and easy to pass over.

But it’s the beating heart of our Scriptures

God, the eternal Son, ‘emptied himself’

He put aside the privilege and glory of divinity

and took on the life and being of a human

‘taking the form of a slave.’

The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality Kenosis

“emptying” refers to the manner of self-transcending love that led Christ, not to claim his rightful lordship, but to take on a human existence marked by humility and servanthood, ultimately expressed in his death for others.

Reflecting on this short passage carries the possibility that, by the grace of God,

we might be transformed from our everyday concerns

by our awe at the magnitude of Christ’s gift

St. Paul

goes much further even than this

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:5, ESV-CE)

St Paul urges us to develop the same kind of self-transcending and mutually loving attitude that was Jesus’.

May our reflection and prayer this week enable us to imitate Christ, even in his self-transcending love.

The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality Kenosis

kenosis has been used as a term to refer to the process of self-transcendence called for in authentic conversion of heart.

That’s why I say this passage from Philippians is the beating heart of today’s Mass, indeed, of the whole celebration of the Paschal Mystery.

O God, enlarge our hearts to receive more fully the Mystery we celebrate in this week we call Holy and strengthen us to attain ‘the same attitude that was in Christ Jesus.’