Philippians 2:1-13
2:1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any
sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy,
2:2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind.
2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as
better than yourselves.
2:4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as
something to be exploited,
2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And
being found in human form,
2:8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a
cross.
2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every
name,
2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth,
2:11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
2:12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence,
but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his
good pleasure.
Real life illustration: May be better as an illustration of "the good samaritan," but works pretty well here. Our neighboring church recently hired a new pastor who seems to want to take the community by storm. No problem with that, except that he's "scooped" us with our own ideas several times - including using a modified version of our own "slogan" (but we're smarter now) and in a way I consider tacky - red white and blue helium balloons advertising the "community" 9/11 service that our church had started. Anyways, they've got a fancy calling machine that's telemarketing their church in the community (have to admit I'm a little jealous of their much larger labor pool and of their financial resources). I met the pastor and he praised God and testified and seemed really eager to serve the Lord.
A homeless man greeted me on my way in to the office yesterday. I was late, about 10:00 AM, and the man told me he'd stopped by that church but that the pastor was too busy to help him. I gave him my breakfast (a rice crispy bar and diet coke) and found some resources for shelters. The man was obviously a little bit mentally ill, and ended up not calling the resources. He asked for a blanket and it seems that's all he wanted.
My question: while I'm sliding into judgmentalism and jealousy of this other church, I wonder which of us is doing God's work? The other church is able to reach out actively while our church is still trying to get the basics of discipleship down. The other church is growing and has programs and praise music. Our church, if it's not "How Great Thou Art," folks barely sing! Our church is declining.
But ... a human soul in need comes to your doorstep, and you're too busy?
Tell me, which of us is doing Christ's work? It seems we both are and we both arent', in different ways.
rather stay anonymous
Dear "How Great Thou Art",
I think we need both types of churches, the bold and the helium balloon filled, and those who continue on with the the regular and test commitments of serving the poor.
Do you have a clergy group in your town? One that perhaps meets weekly, and meets in an honest fashion.
We clergy are great at preaching but face the difficult task of living out the kenotic example even in the most difficult of contexts - alongside our fellow clergy.
Someone rightly told me, "you clergy are most always a group of prima donas" Pride filled, dancing on our own stage. We must let that go.
Hope that helps.
Fr Jacob Fles
Gardiner, Maine
Dear "rather stay anonymous" -
BEWARE OF APROACHING "RANT" FOLLOWING COMPLIMENT...
Actually, your story fit quite well with the passage from Philippians. It's all about kenosis, and perhaps that's what you were doing when you gave the man your rice krispy bar and soda. (Shame on you for indulging in empty calories for breakfast! ;)
I had an experience this weekend that makes me wonder. The contrast is similar to yours, but the circumstances are very different.
I'm a Catholic priest in a large suburban parish, new in town, just three months.
I was invited to bless the home of a young family, whose parents were also in town for the weekend. Neat little Catholic ritual to do. Well, the home was beyond large and lavish, by my standards. They just kept showing me more rooms, the sun room, the pool, the beautiful view - all that money could buy. They even have a prayer room. It has pictures of the Pope, Mother Teresa, Jesus (nice they included him), Mary (of course, we're Catholic, after all...). I joked with them that I could get them a large picture of myself to frame and hang up next to the Pope.
But what I really thought was this: Where is the room for homeless to stay in? What chance does this home, this family, have of offering hospitality to the poor? Will they ever venture out of this compound to visit the other side of the tracks (and we do have poverty in our community!)?
Of course, I don't hold others in the parish, or myself, to that standard, especially about literally housing the homeless, so I don't know how far those thoughts go or how valid they are.
And, these are the nicest people. Very friendly, warm, gracious. And for all I know, they may be giving away lots of money and even working in a soup kitchen somewhere.
But they talked about Catholic/Christian "values" as the reason they put their children in our parochial school and why church is so important to them (they just moved here from another state). I wanted to say, "What values does this mansion express?"
I'm not sure, as I finish up this diatribe, what any of this has to do with kenosis. Maybe I'm the one being asked to empty myself - of
prejudgments and stereotypes about the wealthy.
I think I just wanted to vent. If that was selfish, please forgive me. If the story is helpful or makes anyone think, no need to thank me! If you have a response to my ramblings, I'd be glad to hear them.
Metz
Two thoughts on tying the Gospel to the Epistle. First, the Gospel is talking about the first son actually doing the will of the Father, not just giving it lip service. And what is the will of our Heavenly Father? That's where the lead-in to the Epistle is.
Second, the first part of the Gospel is the question of authority. It can also be read as "In whose name are you doing these things?" A name is a very powerful thing. That is why the LORD gave his name as "I Am." The name gives authority and power. So, the Epistle ties in with the "at the name of Jesus" verse of the Kenosis Hymn.
Hope that springs some ideas.
-- Tim
The opening words of this passage call for unity, something that seems to be sorely in both particular congregations and the body of Christ as a whole. Maybe the discussion on working out your salvation in fear and trembling has both corporate and individual implications with regards to just who is responsible for the "work." I am held accountable by my brothers and sisters for my work just as surely we are all accountable to God. TN Mack
I'm not much on modern paraphrases and such--I'm kind of an NRSV man myself--but Eugene Peterson has given us a gift in the way he renders this text. Here's how it starts: "If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care--then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand."
That's wonderful! Would it be heretical of me to read the text on Sunday from this paraphrase (I always grumble at my lay readers who stand up there with the Living Bible!). Now here I am in a quandary.
Ecclesialman in NC
Ecessialman in NC,
I too am using Peterson's The Message for this passage. Usually we invite everyone to read from their Good News pew Bibles (which of course is also a paraphrase). But, I feel Peterson is so on target here that it will give a new, fresh perspective on "the mind of Christ".
BR in LA
