August 13 The Heart of St. Paul
When St. Paul reflects on the life of Jesus Christ, he realizes that Christ’s glory as the Son of God made man is the fruit of his sacrifice on the cross. He quotes this line from a hymn to the Church of Philippi, “Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he 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. Therefore God has higly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. . .” (Phil 2:6-10).
The path to glory that Jesus teaches us is the path of the cross. As human beings we may think of glory as fame, recognition, celebrity and wealth, but all of that will ultimately pass away. The only glory that lasts is the glory of God himself. For us to become partakers in that glory, to possess the dignity of the children of God, we must be emptied of all those things which are selfish, prideful and possessive.
God created is to be a glorious people. The human race rejected this through the sin of Adam and Jesus himself restored it through his death and resurrection. Let us follow the path that Jesus has already walked. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us to empty ourselves of all that is not life-giving and grace-filled so that, having surrendered all the passsing desires of this life, we can focus on the one lasting thing that God wants to give us, his glorious love.
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