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Empty to Be Filled
Pregnancy is not easy. True, many women who are pregnant are said to "glow" and show a radiance. But not all do.
Most of the pictures of the humble, beautiful young girl whose yes was the acquiescence to the motherhood of Jesus, portray her as piously docile at the invitation of Gabriel. In reality, do you ever wonder how difficult it would be to agree to the angel Gabriel's request? We can imagine "that beneath the great, golden wings he himself was trembling with fear to think that the whole future of creation hung now on the answer of a girl."*
During a 2007 Advent Retreat I led, this question was posed to the retreatants: "Do you really want the Incarnation?" Retreatants were prompted to ponder related questions such as, what would it be like to live fully aware of the Spirit of God dwelling within, and how would one prepare for the indwelling of God's Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ?
At his birth, Jesus "emptied himself" of his divinity in order to become fully human. By this kenosis -- or emptying or abandonment -- Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets that he would be born of a virgin. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in an empty womb.
Sadly, Our American culture seduces us to fill up our shopping carts (actual and virtual online) with unnecessary purchases, our dining tables with unhealthy food, and our schedule with meaningless parties. TV advertising convinces us that happiness at Christmas hinges on giving or receiving the latest electronic gadget.
 What greater gift is there but to receive and welcome the abiding love of Jesus, the Word Incarnate! Kelly Nemeck, OMI, pointed out that Jesus used the parable of the Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-10) to explain how passionately Jesus dwells within us. The words remain, dwell, or abide appear 12 times in those 10 verses. During this Advent how will I empty myself in order to be filled with the abiding love of Jesus?
Mary got the message. And just then, when she did, Gabriel's wings quit trembling.
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*Frederick Buechner, Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who's Who. NY:Harper&Row, 1979, p39.
by Jan |
The Emptying - by Bill
"Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus: who ... emptied himself" - Philippians 2:5-7, Jerusalem Bible.
Christ emptied Christ's self:
like water draining from a basin,
like air let out of a balloon.
Christ let grandeur go for manger straw,
gave up glory for weary thirst,
abandoned power to hang, helpless,
on Caesar's mocking cross.
And so may we, this Advent,
empty our busy selves:
unpack stuffed lives,
unload vain pride,
drain away grudges,
toxic and bitter,
hollow out a space within,
open,
inviting,
hungry,
longing to be filled. |
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