Embracing the Humility of the Incarnate Word
Collect
May our prayer of petition rise before you, we pray, O Lord, that, with purity unblemished, we, your servants, may come, as we desire, to celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
The Mystery of the Incarnation
Today’s Mass Collect reminds me of two verses from the epistles of the Apostle Paul in which he unveils to us the profound humility of Jesus, the Word Incarnate.
In his letter to the Philippians, we read of Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not deem equality with God a thing to be clung to, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men.
[…] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8
May we receive the grace to behold this mystery!
Imagine—the Infinite, clothing Himself in the garb of finitude; the Eternal, stepping into time; the Almighty, embracing frailty. In this self-emptying, known in theological discourse as kenosis, Christ pours out His divine prerogatives, taking on the form of a servant for our sake. Kenosis refers to the willful act by Christ of “emptying himself” of the privileges of divinity in order to assume the limits of humanity. By restraining His divine attributes, He opens Himself to human vulnerability and weakness. In this profound act of humility and servitude, Christ exemplifies the path of sacrificial love we too are called to walk in holiness. His kenosis illuminates the very heart of God, who so loved the world that He surrendered everything for our redemption. As we ponder this mystery anew in Advent, may the grace that flowed from the manger open our eyes to glimpse eternity wrapped in swaddling clothes.
In his second letter to the Corinthians, the same Apostle teaches us of the redemptive purpose of this divine condescension. Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us, so that in Him, we might be clothed in the righteousness of God. O ineffable exchange! The Sinless One bears our sins; the Just, condemned for the unjust; the Author of Life, tasting death, that we might inherit eternal life.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
In this holy season of Advent, as we prepare to commemorate the Nativity of our Lord, let us do so with hearts purified and spirits rekindled. Let our petitions ascend like incense before the throne of Grace, that in celebrating this sacred mystery, we might be transformed by the same humility and love that Christ Himself displayed.
Let us Pray
Good and Gracious Jesus, As we enter into this hallowed season of Advent, Still our restless hearts, that we may embrace the virtues modeled by You. In Your wondrous Incarnation, You revealed the humility and charity at the heart of the Trinity.
May we follow You in the path of servitude, emptying ourselves in love for one another. As we prepare for the coming feast of Your nativity, Shape in us a deeper devotion, sincere repentance, and joyful anticipation.
Strengthen our hope as we long for holiness and union with You. Enliven our worship in spirit and truth, that Your Word made flesh may take deeper root in us.
In Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, Amen.