Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We are constantly told we have to fill our lives with success, goods, and all manner of worldly things. However, this is not what Jesus did in his life and it is not what we should do either. Just like Christ, we should empty ourselves of all those things that might get in the way of our relationship with God. We must be willing to give up our will for the Will of our Heavenly Father. This means becoming a slave to God, a slave by choice and one that sacrifices everything for the glory of their master and the good of others. This requires a great deal of humility and a willingness to die to ourselves in ways we might find difficult. This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and we are best served by choosing to know, love, and serve God and his children without reservation.

How can we empty ourselves so we might be filled with the Holy Spirit? What can we do to become good and faithful slaves to our heavenly Father? In what ways can we imitate Jesus Christ’s humility in our own lives?

O Lord, we choose to be your humble slave.

Amen.