Excerpt from Philippians 2:1-11

"He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness. . . and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."

Reflection by Talitha Arnold

I can't imagine a more God-forsaken scene than Jesus on his desolate journey to Calvary. Not only did Jesus empty himself of any claim to power—human or divine—but he entered into the cruel emptiness of human fear and hatred. The hours between the last supper and the crucifixion seem devoid of human pity, much less love or hope. They are filled instead with betrayal, denial, cowardice and violence. The Psalmist describes it best: "He was cut off from the land of the living."

And yet. . . .

Even in that desolation, there were moments of grace and people whose compassion overcame their fear. Simon who carried his cross. The women who bore witness. The disciple who cared for his mother. 

If such mercy was present in that barren time, then surely God was, too. As the ancient Christian chant Ubi caritas affirms, "where caring and love are, there is God."

When life gets barren and hard, we can become more aware of the small kindnesses - the friends who help us bear our grief; the colleague who stands by us; the church member who writes a note or shows up with a casserole. Simple acts of mercy and care that remind us that even in such emptiness, we are not alone.

"He emptied himself," Paul writes of Jesus, and he entered into the emptiness of human life. Because he did, we can, too, for we know that even in the hard and empty times of our lives, God is there.

Prayer

Help us not to be afraid of the empty places within us, O God, but give us the courage to open our lives to you, and in that emptiness to find your abundant love - to find you. Amen.

About the Author Talitha Arnold is Senior Minister of the United Church of Santa Fe (UCC), Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is the author of Worship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press.

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