Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
Reflection
In the season of spring, the trees, flowers, grasses, vines, and vegetables resurrect, regenerate, and reproduce. They do so with abandon. They hurl their seeds into the air and soil. They grow deep, spread broadly, shoot up, sprout buds, display petals, stretch shoots. Lent, from the Latin, means lengthening: the lengthening of days. Lent is the season of spring. It is the season of fresh growth.
In Lent, we follow Jesus as he teaches that the reign of God leads to authentic life, heals those broken by illness, anxiety, oppression, and challenges those who base their power on violence and corruption. And he did all of this with abandon. He hurled himself into life and love planting the seeds of justice and compassion among the people of Palestine. And when the politically powerful put him to death on the cross, he died as he lived, giving of himself fully––emptying himself completely “to the point of death––even death on a cross.”
Self-emptying is the core spiritual practice in contemplation. The word in ancient Greek is kenosis, as in “Christ Jesus…emptied himself.” In contemplation, one empties oneself of ego, anxiety, resentment, judgment, logistics, desire, you name it. And then one extends self-emptying into all aspects of life. The kenotic life is one lived with abandon, hurling oneself into work, study, gardening, relationships, justice, creativity, cooking, cleaning, love.
Self-emptying takes it cue from plants and their spring time proliferation and from Jesus and his self-giving life. In the practice of contemplation, be emptied and hurl yourself into life.
Poem
“Love is Recklessness” by Jalalludin Rumi
Love is reckless; not reason.
Reason seeks a profit.
Love comes on strong,
consuming herself, unabashed.
Yet, in the midst of suffering,
Love proceeds like a millstone,
hard surfaced and straightforward.
Having died of self-interest,
she risks everything and asks for nothing.
Love gambles away every gift God bestows.
Without cause God gave us Being;
without cause, give it back again.
Practice:
How might you find time for silence today? Though sitting for 10 to 20 minutes may seem unproductive, what if it might be perceived differently as the basis for self-emptying, for giving of oneself fully to whatever it is that comes after contemplation––a conversation, project, meeting, task?
Prayer:
Ineffable God, thank you for giving us life and love this day. May we experience you in the still silence of contemplation. For you are the force of kenosis, the one who gives of yourself fully so that we might live fully. Teach us your way, the way of self-emptying. Amen.