Emmanuel: God’s Kenosis and Our Call to Self-Emptying
Listening the Spirit
Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word so that all your people may know and love You more and understand You better.
As I go about my day may I not forget the scriptures you have opened up for me.
Help me to recognize how You want for me to apply Your Word to my daily life. Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word, may You enlighten my mind and enkindle in my heart a greater love for You and for others in my family and in the world.
Amen.
Listening the Word: Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Reflection
Today we celebrate the feast of the baptism of our Lord. In today’s gospel, an interesting conversation
arises between Jesus and John just before the baptism. “I need to be baptized by you,” said John. But
Jesus insisted. When the angel visited Mary and announced the Savior, he said Jesus would be
“Emmanuel,” God with us. In fact, God is with us since the nativity: poor among poor, persecuted, a
refugee, and a human like us in every aspect except sin. But a this “Emmanuel” thing didn’t stop there.
Today we hear the plea of Jesus to be once again at our side, the side of sinners.
In theology there is a term called “kenosis,” the process of emptying God self to become human. This
kenosis is the way of God to be with us as Emmanuel. The feast of today reminds us of the tireless
commitment of Jesus to be with us. He did not just become human, but he stands together with the
sinners and even at the moment of his death he will be counted among criminals and even after death
he will be descending into hell. That great is love for us.
What about us? What is the answer in front of this kenosis? Are we willing to become more like Jesus?
Are we willing to accept Jesus to be with us always? The only answer that we can give to this great show
of mercy is to welcome his presence and be willing to empty ourselves for the good of others. To
become one with the poor, the sick, the prisoners, the foreigner, the abandoned. Saint John the Baptist
gives us an example of how his person and even ministry comes after Jesus, the Christ.
Lord Jesus Christ, in baptism we died and were born again in you. Give us the grace to follow your
example of self-emptying so that you can fill us completely.
Reflection Questions
1.Where in my life is Jesus inviting me to practice “kenosis” - to empty myself for the good of others?
2.Like John the Baptist, what aspects of my own identity or plans might need to “come after” Christ?
