“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2:5-7)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)
Before we can begin to understand the poverty of the cross we must experience a kind of poverty ourselves. The Apostle Paul writes, “Have this mind…”. It is a call to embrace the mindset of Jesus who “made Himself nothing”. What does this mean to empty yourself out…to become nothing…to be “poor in spirit”?
This is especially hard to understand in our noisy, cluttered world of today. Most of us suffer from excess rather than poverty. Too much to do…too much to eat…too many things going on…too much stuff to take care of. Our lives are so full that taking time to meditate on the cross is just another thing added to our busy lives and it is almost a burden rather than a time of refreshment.
O Church, if we are ever going to go deeper in our contemplation of the cross we must simplify our lives. This will involve a change in our schedules, a change in our committments, eliminating some things and adding others but…mostly…a change in our perspective. A change in our worldview. A change in our attitude toward the people around us and around the world. A change in how we value the things that we “own” and a change in how we meet the needs of others. A change in how we organize our calendars. A change in our appreciation of rest and renewal. A change in perspective.
“Have this mind…”
It is only when we think about this mindset of Jesus that the true poverty of the cross can be appreciated. It is the selfless love of Christ that transforms the horrors of the cross into the redemption of His beloved creation. It is the unfailing love of The Father that transforms an instrument of death into a pathway for mercy and grace.
Today, quiet your soul as you think about the attitude of Jesus as He approached the cross. Think about how it applies to you. He “made Himself nothing” for you and me. He willingly became poor so that you might be able to experience the riches of reconciliation with your Heavenly Father. Look for His blessings today!