Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death --- even death on a cross.
The
text from Philippians brought to mind two stories – one from long ago and one related
to a news piece I read this week. I’ll share the stories and then take a moment
to make the connection to Philippians chapter 2.
Many
years ago I saw a documentary film – it began in a large living room where a
dozen or so people were gathering to share in a community healing exercise. It
is explained that those participating have been through significant events in
their life and require some kind of healing; and that the exercise is a
practice that has Indigenous roots. The
film continues in a series of vignettes. Focusing on one person at a time the
film rewinds time to capture and tell a deeply personal experience about that
individual – kind of like a journal entry on the theme of looking for and finding
hope/peace/love/Spirit/God in a troubled time of their life. After going through a dozen stories, the film
returns to the large living room where the dozen people gather in a circle,
each with an item in their hand.
Each
person was invited to bring with them a gift to give away. The gift -the item each person was holding in
their hands- was to be an item of great
significance, a prized possession, and one of great worth to the person holding
it. As the group formed a circle, the participants began by offering a moment
of gratitude – for creation, for each other, for their experiences, for family,
for new friends, for healing, for the food to be eaten after the gift exchange.
Next, each person in turn, shared the story of the significant gift they
brought and then would give it to the person beside them.
Those
of us who watched the vignettes had an inside story on the gifts being given
and their significance to the giver: The kayak that an individual had used
everyday since their father died to cope with grief and find peace on the
water; the eagle feather, the handmade handkerchief, that were tokens given to
the givers by significant people in their lives – tokens that reminded them to
be themselves, to fight demons of unworthiness pulling givers out of addiction,
or abusive situations; and so on. The givers brought gifts that marked
significant turning points in their lives – without the item, perhaps the
person would not have come through the troubled time, or come to this circle of
healing.
What
was being given, was not so much the gift of the item, the gift was in having a
circle of people attentively listen to one’s life changing experience. And to
give someone the privilege and honour to be the bearer of the giver’s story of resurrection,
restoration, resilience.
This
past week Robert Graetz passed away at the age of 92. Robert was a Lutheran
pastor in the United States. In the 1950s there was a shortage of Black pastors
so Robert was asked in his career to serve majority-Black congregations: leaving
seminary he went to Trinity Lutheran church in Montgomery, Alabama. Six months
into being a pastor at Trinity, ministry went into full swing. He was the only
white clergy person who supported the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus-Boycott, and
actively contributed to plan it and make it work- driving 50 or more to work
every day; engaging the congregation to participate whole heartedly. In the
congregation, his ministry was embraced...outside not so much.
He
-and his supportive wife; along with their children- were shunned by the
majority of the white community, they endured vandalism and verbal harassment, they
received notes suggesting their children be shot while playing outside. Their
parents wanted them to send their children away to school to protect them.
Graetz was harassed by police- taken to jail with trumped up driving
infractions. His house was bombed, twice. His life’s passion was working on and
speaking about civil rights issues right up to his death.
In a
1956 interview Graetz stated: “Some time ago I read that the first requisite of
a successful missionary was that he become color blind. I figured that the same
was true of my work here. I know that I shall be criticized for my stand. I may
even suffer violence. But I cannot minister to souls alone. My people also have
bodies.”
In
his letter to the Philippians, Paul’s main concern was to appeal for unity in
the community of faith. His persuasion begins with the passage we read earlier,
likely words from a known hymn of Paul’s time, perhaps used as part of a
baptismal liturgy. Being baptized into Christ means living lives that follow
the example of Jesus. The example of
Jesus in the hymn is kenotic – a ‘self-emptying’ of Jesus’ own will and in so
doing becoming entirely receptive to God’s divine will. The Oxford Annotated NRSV
blip about Philippians commentates: a very good example as to why the
discordant factions in the Philippian church should be willing to empty
themselves of their opinions.
Paul then continues by offering examples of Christ-living,
people who have had their lives endangered, including imprisonment for the
gospel: mentioning Timothy, Ephaphroditus, and Paul himself – all people who
would have been known to the community hearing the letter.
The
message -after so many examples- should be easy to understand.
As
members of the Christian community, follow the example of Jesus, and if that is
not plain enough, use Jesus’ followers as a standard for right living.
Specifically
this text focuses on how to go about right-living. To participate in the reign
of God on earth it requires humility and vulnerability; one can not empty
one-self otherwise. And then, it is a bit of a paradox because in ‘emptying
oneself,’ one is filled with divine grace, resulting in union with God. It is
from the midst of this divine grace and union with God that one lives righteously.
In
our everyday lives, I suspect we do not spend a lot of time pondering the
righteousness of our actions, or the example or standard we are setting for
right living. If someone were to ask you for an example of faithful -God
oriented-living – who would it be? This
week, at the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we were reminded of people who give
their whole lives; dedicated to fighting for the rights of others and changing unjust
systems. Such lives can make some of the
rest of us feel inadequate – or at least not able to make such a huge
difference. This is one reason I shared
with you the story of Pastor Gaetz, along with his supportive wife and
children. Perhaps a closer to home example -with actions-that are doable (albeit
with good dose of courage) for this community, doable for me, doable for you.
And
if not that, surely the example set in the circle of healing is a model of
action for the time in which we find ourselves.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are both drawing close – we have spent a lot
of time in our homes, physically distanced from family and friends- we have had a lot of time to be with our
stuff, whether material or memory; we have many significant items and powerful accompanying
stories ; gifts to give away. What I am
suggesting is that between now and Christmas we take time to be humble and vulnerable,
sharing- gifting others: life changing moments, how we coped and made it through
scary situations, deep aha moments, memories of mentors/guides/faithful people,
times where one persevered and yet might not know how you made it through. Wrap significant material item, along with a
written note or phone call to tell the accompanying story to someone in your
wider circle. There is no better gift
than to give yourself.
What
I found so beautiful in the documentary film was the care people took in telling
their story – and the sacrifice to give away an item that meant so much – only
to find that in the giving they received back so much more. The fullness of
healing came in the emptying of oneself -to be humble and vulnerable; to have
someone else share in holding and experiencing their story, a little piece of
who they are. The story grew – as did
hope for the future because the participants were united with each other in
spirit. Once emptying oneself, one was also able to receive the precious story/item
of the other, expanding one’s connection with another.
What
better gift can you give – then to empty yourself – spilling the nature of who you
are and in so doing sharing your experience of life, death, resurrection in the
moments that have made life what it is. This is you --sharing the gospel
applied to daily living, uniting on a deeper level with those in your wider
circle. #forthehealingoftheworld
Who,
though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something
to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave being born in
human likeness. And being found in human form, humbled himself and became
obedient to the point of death --- even death on a cross.
