Very early on in life, I learnt that, in this world, only those who make it to the top are the ones who are praised, respected and remembered. When I realized that this was the way to make it in this world, I competed to excel in everything: academics, sports, popularity. I did not always manage, but I can honestly say that there was a competitive drive in me that pushed me constantly to strive to ascend, to climb the ladder, to excel, to be someone, to make a name for myself. I believe that such a drive is in all of us, one way or another. Naturally, we all want to succeed and to be recognized; to occupy the first place and to be acknowledged for our achievements, and to receive the incredible compliment of someone who might say: “you are the best.”
This approach to life is not bad. In fact, many men and women throughout history have achieved great things for humanity, following this drive. However, if this approach becomes the center of our life and the driving force of our existence, we will experience that the fruits of it are not as rewarding and as fulfilling as it might seem at first sight. Indeed, if we stop a moment to reflect on today’s first reading, we will realize that, to live the life of Christ, the approach is completely the opposite.
Humility and Descent
In the letter to the Philippians, St. Paul describes how Jesus Christ’s life was a life of humility and descent. He mentions that “though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.” Instead, St. Paul continues, he “emptied himself” and he “humbled himself,” becoming obedient to the Father’s plan to the point of death. And what was the plan of the Father? Our salvation!
It is important not to forget that we are speaking about God the Son, as the one who “emptied” and “humbled” himself. He left the bosom of the Trinity to dwell among us, to take upon Himself our sins, to nail them to the cross and to offer us salvation. Imagine how low he descended! All of Jesus’ life is marked by His humility, and by totally accepting the plan of God. How many times he could have revealed His glory and show to all His enemies that He was God! How many times he could have spared Himself from so many humiliations, sufferings, difficulties, precariousness, and pains.
However, He was showing us the way to eternal life. He was opening the way for us to share in the glory of God. In fact, St. Paul affirms that because of His descent and humility, “God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every other name.” In other words, Jesus Christ is manifesting that the humiliation, the descent, the sufferings, and the contradictions he accepted were the means God the Father used to manifest in Him His glory. These words should, thus, console and encourage us greatly. Jesus Christ has shown us the way to share in the glory of God: the way of humility!
Not So Easy
Nevertheless, if we are sincere, we would all agree that the way of humility is not one we are so ready to take. Very easily we let ourselves be driven by this natural force that compels us to build ourselves, to impose our will and to climb the ladder of our plans and projections. Thus, in order to help us descend, the Lord allows situations in our lives that invite us to descend; problems, difficulties, contradictions, precariousness, and insecurities are all opportunities to take the same way Christ took, which is the way of descent, the way downward, the way that, mysteriously, leads to the glory of God.
In light of these readings, let us ask the Lord to help us receive this mystery hidden to the powerful and the learned, and revealed to the simple and the little ones. Let us allow the Lord to convince us through the power of His Spirit that when we are descending with him, we are making our way to experience the glory of God, the freedom of the children of God and the love of a God who humbled Himself to let Himself be known by us. May the Lord bless you all!
