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Visio Divina for 3/26/12 – “And Every Tongue Should Confess” – Day 1 (Listening)

Listening

Read the text below, preferably aloud.  As you hear the word, “listen with the ear of your heart” for a word or short phrase that God has for you this day.

Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

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,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

COMMENTS

This text from Philippians is one of the earliest Christian hymns known to have been used at worship.  There is a vast amount of scholarly discussion as to the origin and structure of this hymn.  Some suggest that Paul himself wrote the hymn while others note that perhaps Paul was using an existing, well-known hymn to connect with his hearers.  After all, we often hear preachers today using lines from a hymn to illustrate a point during a sermon.  Regardless of the exact origin of this text, one thing that scholars do agree on is that this text constitutes a hymn that was used in the earliest Christian worship.

As I read through this passage from Philippians, I am caught by the phrase “but [he] emptied himself.”  It is a very simply statement, but one that leaves a lot of room for reflection.  It becomes clear that Jesus chose to do this himself – he “emptied himself” – he renounced his place of privilege.  After all, in the time of Jesus, humility was seen as a virtue to be practiced only by slaves, and as the hymn states earlier, Jesus indeed took the form of a slave.

I am struck by this radical emptying of Jesus.  He willingly and freely renounced what was rightly his in order to be among us, identify with us, and minister to us.  I find myself wondering “If Jesus freely and completely emptied himself, what am I called to do?”   “What does this mean for me?”  As Holy Week and Easter draw ever closer, I find myself looking at my failed lenten resolutions and asking those questions.  While I may not have any answers right now, I do take comfort in the fact that, despite my own failings, Jesus did freely and radically empty himself for me.  I know that I’m surrounded with a love that’s beyond my wildest imagining.

Chase M. Becker

© And Every Tongue Should Confess, Suzanne Moore, 2004. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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Visio Divina for 3/27/12 – “And Every Tongue Should Confess” – Day 2 (Meditating)

MEDITATING

Ruminate on the word you were drawn to in yesterday’s scripture passage (Philippians 2:5-11). What does the word or phrase you have chosen mean to you today?

COMMENTS

Yesterday I was drawn to the phrase “but [he] emptied himself.”  As I meditate on this passage, my mind is filled with all of the places throughout scripture where Jesus emptied himself.  It strikes me that the two most significant time of “emptying” was at the beginning and at the end of Jesus’ life.  He renounced the power and privilege that was rightly his as God to become a human being and live among us.  At the cross, Jesus emptied himself in death for the love of us.  The life of Jesus was lived in constant emptying.

What does this mean for us?  We know that sacrifice, humility, and “emptying” are all part of the Christian experience.  We can likely identify times in our life where we have done these things well.  But how can we go about our lives with a consistent spirit of “emptying?”  I think that it’ a matter of listening.  Are we quiet enough to hear God’s movements in our lives?  Are we observant enough to hear God’s voice speaking through other people?  If quiet ourselves, we can begin to empty ourselves for the love of God.

Chase M. Becker

© And Every Tongue Should Confess, Suzanne Moore, 2004. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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Visio Divina for 3/28/12 – “And Every Tongue Should Confess” – Day 3 (Seeing)

SEEING

Return to God’s word for the purpose of “hearing and seeing” Christ in the text (Philippians 2:5-11). Fix your gaze on the illumination. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart and enable you to see what God wants you to see.

COMMENTS

As I look upon the illumination, I notice the brilliant, free-flowing colors throughout the entire portion of the text.  Upon these colors is written a brilliant gold.  While initially this gold appears to simply be a part of the design, a closer inspection reveals that the gold illuminates various portions of the phrase “Jesus Christ is Lord” in many different languages.  A striking reminder of the universality of Christ’s message.

Initially I had not paid much attention to this phrase, however the illumination now brings it new life.  I felt that “Jesus Christ is Lord” was simply a slogan consigned to fundamentalist bumper stickers and t-shirts.  However, this illumination now challenges me to really examine this phrase.  It’s something that can be tossed around easily, but what does it really mean?  More specifically, what should my life look like knowing that “Jesus Christ is Lord?”  Of course the word “Lord” has royal connotations.  This can be a struggle to reflect upon.  What does it mean for Jesus to “rule” in our lives?  As we move closer to the mysteries of Holy Week, let’s spend some time reflecting on this simple statement and what it means in our lives.

Chase M. Becker 

© And Every Tongue Should Confess, Suzanne Moore, 2004. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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Visio Divina for 3/29/12 – “And Every Tongue Should Confess” – Day 4 (Praying)

PRAYING

Pray to God, allowing for the transformation of your being and feelings. Give to God what you have found in your heart.

COMMENTS

As I move to prayer, the Suscipe by Ignatius of Loyola comes to mind as being particularly suited to this text:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,

my memory, my understanding

and my entire will,

All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace.

That is enough for me.

Loving God, help me to understand the true gift of your son’s emptying of self.  Give me the knowledge and the openness to realize the things that I must empty myself of.  By this emptying, may I be filled with love and so bring your presence to all the world.  AMEN!

Chase M. Becker 

© And Every Tongue Should Confess, Suzanne Moore, 2004. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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Visio Divina for 3/30/12 – “And Every Tongue Should Confess” – Day 5 (Contemplating)

ONTEMPLATING

Notice the transforming presence of God within you. Let go of words and images. Surrender all that is stirring, even if only briefly, and rest for a few minutes in God’s embrace.

COMMENTS

Letting go isn’t easy.  It’s not easy to let go of the things that frustrate us or cause us to worry.  It’s difficult to leave behing past hurts or wrongs.  It isn’t easy to let go of even the things that bring us happiness.  How often do we spend time in silence?  Not only in exterior silence, free of noise – but interior silence, free of mental distractions?

One of the real benefits of regularly practicing of Visio Divina is that is allows one to spend time in external and internal silence on a regular basis.  It’s not something that will come easy at first, but with most things, consistent practice is the key.  I encourage you to give regular Visio Divina a try.  Perhaps commit to this practice for Easter season.  Now is a great time to let go and be filled with the presence of God.

Chase M. Becker 

 

© And Every Tongue Should Confess, Suzanne Moore, 2004. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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Visio Divina for 4/1/12 – “And Every Tongue Should Confess” – Day 6 (Becoming Christ-like)

BECOMING CHRIST-LIKE

Return to God’s word. Allow it to transform you. Notice how your faith is being deepened and your way of life motivated.

Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

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,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

COMMENTS

We end our reflection on this passage from Philippians just as we head into holy week.  On Palm Sunday, we begin by acclaiming “Hosanna!” and then quickly move to shouting “Crucify Him!”  We witness the dramatic entrance of a king – the ends with the humiliating death of a criminal.  “…He emptied himself.”

The Paschal Triduum is filled with images of Jesus emptying himself.  As we enter into this sacred season, I feel myself being called to truly enter into the Triduum liturgies.  To spend time reflecting on the readings.  To spend time praying the collects and prayers.  This is truly an opportunity for me to open myself and find where God is ask me to empty myself.

How are you called to become more Christ-like in this passage?

Chase M. Becker

© And Every Tongue Should Confess, Suzanne Moore, 2004. The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.