John 3:16, we see this message at sporting events, on roadside billboards, on poster boards in the hands of followers on street corners, and a multitude of other places. Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only son – this is true indeed. By developing a deeper understanding into what this really means we become free to more fully experience the infinite love our Triune God offers us.
As I often do when I prepare to write my weekly reflections I sat with today’s readings in Lectio Divina fashion. I invite you to learn more about this form of absorbing sacred scripture by visiting my website here: Lectio Divina. We will circle back to this in a bit. As I read today’s readings a few verses stood out to me. Some were from the second reading and a few from the Gospel. Here they are:
Rather, he emptied himself,
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
He Emptied Himself
Paul reminds us in today’s second reading that Jesus emptied himself and took on our human likeness to the point of death on the cross. Out of this emptying something beautiful arose. God exalted Jesus Christ to the point where every knee shall bend to him – those in heaven, on the earth, and those under the earth. Sitting with this thought a question arose in my heart – why did Jesus empty himself and what did this look like? Then an image came flooding in. Jesus emptied himself out of love for you and I – out of love for all of his Father’s creation. Jesus’ emptying is all about love. We are also invited into this emptying of self. In order to more fully experience the great love our Triune God has for his creation we must unite with Jesus in this emptying of self.
Infinite Love
Our humanity guarantees that we cannot fully experience or understand the fullness of God’s love. The best we can do is empty ourselves enough so that God can flow a bit of his perfect love into us. However, why such limitations? Why does the bigger picture escape our human consciousness? Why can’t we understand why God does what he does? Well, I believe that our human limitations are rooted in the fact that we experience God’s universe through the lens of our three-dimensional world. God is bigger than this three-dimensional world. Fun fact – quantum physicists now hypothesize that there are as many as 10, 11 or 26 different dimensions! Three of which (width, length, and height) are familiar to us. God is bigger than all of it – he is the creator of it all. Given this we cannot know what God knows, all we can do is open to him.
Yet, God so loved us that he gave his only begotten son to us so that his son could show us the way into perfect love. Moving into God’s love is done through emptying of self – like Jesus did. When we participate in the circular nature of love, the giving and receiving of love, we begin to enjoy a bit of the fullness of God’s love. After all, love is not meant to be coveted or horded. It is meant to share.
All Will Confess Jesus Christ is Lord
In addition to telling us that we are all part of the Body of Christ, Paul tells us today that all will confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth – every knee shall bend and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Does this mean that even those in Hell will proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord? And if so, are the souls of the lost invited into the sacred body? Are the worst sinners in the world invited into the sacred body – even those who did not proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord while they were alive? If every knee shall bend and every tongue shall confess as Paul describes here, then it certainly appears so. However, in my opinion, questions like these are way above our human pay grade! God is bigger than us. Existing outside (and inside) the three-dimensional world we know God sees what human eyes cannot see. We are just called to follow Jesus.
Emptying of Self
So back to the first line that I sat with in Lectio Divina style: “Rather, he emptied himself,” Instead of seeking ascension to the Father, Jesus continually emptied himself as he walked the earth. His later ascension was the natural outcome of his continued emptying. Through humility Jesus continually took the lower place, to the point of death on the cross. We are called to do the same, to continually empty ourselves so that our Father can fill us up with his love. Emptying ourselves of worldly attachment is the pathway of Jesus. This is the pathway we are called into.
How do we do this? Now, this is a question our humanity can work with! We must become empty through humility like Jesus did. We do this by moving into the “lower place”, the place reached through humility. Of course this doesn’t call us to be a door mat – quite the opposite. We are called to love to the point that there is nothing left of us – no victim, no perpetrator, nothing except an open vessel ready to be filled by Father God. In this place anger, unforgiveness, fear, jealousy, and every part of ourselves that is not congruent with love will cease to exist. By emptying ourselves we become open to love. Once open to love we open to the giving and receiving of love – the sharing of love.
Lectio Divina
Meditating on Sacred Scripture is a beautiful pathway into humility and full surrender. Jesus himself was very familiar with Sacred Scripture – especially the Psalms. I have found Lectio Divina to be very fruitful on my journey into God. While I sat with several passages today, I frequently just sit with a few. Sometimes I only sit with one. I invite you into this journey as well.
Global Light For Christ (GLFC)
In addition to sharing your prayer requests below I invite you to share with our community your experience with Lectio Divina or any other form of deep prayer you enjoy. Hopefully you will receive something from my experience with today’s readings. Be blessed my brothers and sisters in Christ!
God bless all of you. See you next week Friday – Carolyn
If you would like to learn more about my work or my ministry I invite you to visit my website: CarolynBerghuis.com
God the Father – hold us in your Fatherly love.
Sacred Heart of Jesus – heal us with your divine love.
God the Holy Spirit – immerse us in divine love.
