What if Lent Could Rekindle Your Faith? Exploring the Kerygma
Life can take us on unexpected paths, and sometimes our faith journey can feel like it’s taken a detour. If you’ve found yourself distant from your faith, or if you’re simply curious about exploring it again, this Lenten season offers a gentle invitation to reconnect. These daily reflections focus on the Kerygma, the core message of Christianity – a message of love, hope, and new beginnings. We’ll be exploring eight key “Acts” of God’s story, from creation to our present call to partnership with Him. There’s no pressure, no judgment, just an invitation to consider a different perspective and perhaps rediscover a connection you thought was lost.
Act 4 of the Kerygma: “The Incarnation
Theme
Jesus, the Model of Humility”
The grand act of God’s love unfolds in Jesus, the Son of God becoming human (John 1:14). This is the ultimate choice by God – Himself entering our broken world, bridging the gap created by sin. Jesus’ life is a testament to God’s unwavering love, a love that extends even to the point of the cross (John 19:30).
Philippians 2:5-11
Though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as 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.
Reflection
In today’s reading from Philippians, we encounter a profound truth about the Incarnation: Jesus, the Son of God, emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant. He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the Father’s will, even unto death on a cross.
This act of self-emptying, or kenosis, is a powerful testament to God’s love for us. It reveals a God who is not distant or aloof, but one who draws near, who enters into our human experience, sharing in our joys and sorrows, our triumphs and failures.
As we journey through Lent, let us reflect on the example of Jesus. Let us ask ourselves: How can we, like Jesus, empty ourselves of our own desires and agendas, and instead seek to serve others? How can we embrace humility, recognizing our need for God’s grace and the importance of living in community?
Prayer
Loving God, thank you for the example of your Son, Jesus, who humbled himself for our sake. Help us to follow in his footsteps, to empty ourselves of our pride and selfishness, and to live lives of service and compassion. Amen.
Action
Today, look for opportunities to serve others. Perhaps you can volunteer your time at a local charity, help a neighbor in need, or simply offer a kind word to someone who is feeling down.
The Kerygma
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post