Reflection:
What does it mean to ‘empty ourselves’ (kenosis) for the sake of another person?
Self-emptying(1) means pouring oneself out, humbling oneself, weeding out any ego through our spiritual life and looking and longing for opportunities to sacrifice for God and neighbor.
The self-emptying (kenosis) of God raised us up, Christ descended to us, so that we can ascend to God and be united with Him.(2)
Kenosis is a paradox and a mystery since "emptying oneself" in fact fills the person with divine grace and results in union with God.
Let us follow Christ Who emptied Himself to save us, and humble ourselves by emptying ourselves of any pride or self-centeredness, and let’s be the loving presence others need in their lives.
Resources:
1) ἀλλ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος
2) Met. Hierotheos, The Feasts of the Mother of God, pg 402.
