Emptying is Hard

The second reading today from Paul’s letter to the Philippians is my favorite reading in all of the letters. That is actually quite amazing because the entire section is about obedience. I have now and have always had an aversion to being told what to do. 

But this letter from Paul speaks about obedience in a way that draws me in and frees me from the boundaries that usually entrap me when I think about compliance. Obedience is freeing. 

The passage is called the Kenosis Hymn. In Christian theology, Kenosis literally means self-emptying. This passage expresses the ‘self-emptying’ of Jesus’ own will and becoming entirely receptive to God’s Divine will. Kenosis is the act of standing before God and knowing our humanity’s fullness being willing to be naked and empty, that we might be filled with God.

Jesus being fully human, captivates my heart. In the fullness of His humanity, Jesus made a choice (yes, a choice) to be emptied of His human needs, desires, and even weaknesses. He chose to be empty that he might be filled with God. Jesus chose Kenosis.

I don’t imagine that the Kenosis of Jesus happened in a moment, but over time. He emptied himself as he came to know more and more parts of his humanness. Emptying takes time and patience.

There is a story in scripture that I think describes what I am talking about better than I can. You know it, I am sure. The story of the rich young man who comes to Jesus and tells Him he has followed all the commandments and done all that the law requires, so what more should he do to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus responds, “Go sell all that you have and give it to the poor, then come and follow me.” The story says the man went away sad because he had many possessions.

There is great hope in that passage. What Jesus was calling that good young man to was Kenosis. He was calling him to empty himself so that he might be filled with God. While every homily I have ever heard about this passage implies, the man never returned to Jesus, unwilling to give up his wealth. I see it differently. Selling is hard. Emptying ourselves is hard. It takes time, prayer, and commitment. It takes failing and starting again. It takes holding each possession, cherishing it, and then letting it go. Selling is hard, and it takes time. I like to believe that at some point, that rich young man came back to Jesus and was ready to be filled with God. That he took the time to sell and grieve his losses, and then he chose to allow himself to be filled with God.

This reading calls us to the same thing. It calls us like Jesus was called to be empty and be filled with God. 

We must be emptied not of our stuff, but of the attitudes that fill us, separating us from God. Things like pride, arrogance, the judgment of others, envy, greed, selfishness, and the like. And just as likely, we may need to be emptied of fear, shame, guilt, a sense of worthlessness, or unworthiness. We must be drained of the attitudes that so often fill our conscious and subconscious selves. Faithful obedience is choosing to stand before God empty and vulnerable and letting God fill us with Himself. True emptiness is being willing to be changed. It is being ready to be the image of God in our world. This is obedience. This is true freedom.

Jesus showed us the way to Kenosis. It is okay if it is frightening or makes you sad. Selling is hard; emptying ones-self is hard. But God is waiting with ultimate patience to fill you with Himself. 

We are called to make the self-journey to Kenosis if we seek the Kingdom. As God’s faithful ones, we are companions on the journey to Kenosis. Take my hand, let’s journey together.

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen