Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are.
1 Corinthians 1:26-28
I remember a Cadillac commercial from three or four decades ago. In the commercial a well-dressed man is climbing a ladder. As he breaks through the clouds at the top of the ladder, a gleaming new Cadillac awaits. The voice over says “This is what you’ve worked for all of your life,” or something to that effect.
That was perhaps the most disturbing advertisement I have ever seen.
Our society prizes the idea of “upward mobility.” It’s what drives the American Dream: all it takes is hard work and ambition and anyone can rise above their circumstances. Of course, it’s not true, but that’s a post for another day. The point is that many people believe it to be true and spend their lives in the struggle for wealth and status. Unfortunately, Christianity has not been immune to this way of thinking. The “health and wealth” gospel has crept successfully into many churches.
Is health and wealth truly what life is all about?
The great spiritual writer Henri Nouwen says no and points us to a different path. While recognizing that everything in our culture emphasizes moving up – the media, our educational system, advertising, etc. – he reminds us that Jesus moved in an entirely different direction. Nouwen refers to this as “downward mobility.”
Nowhere does this downward mobility become more apparent than in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. The second chapter contains what is believed to be the earliest known Christian hymn. It lays bare what Jesus’ life looked like and what the life of a disciple should look like.
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” Paul begins. And then, quoting from this early hymn, we learn that Jesus “emptied” himself and “became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.” That last phrase is important, because two thousand years ago there was nothing more horrible and humiliating than to be crucified. Only the lowest of the low were put to death in such a manner. Aside from the excruciating pain, your humanity and dignity were stripped away.
This is the path that Jesus followed. He gave up “equality to with God” for a humble birth, life as an itinerant rabbi and finally a criminal’s death. And he did it all for us. That is infinite love. That is the blessing of downward mobility.
Next Sunday is Easter, when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. But, before we get to Easter, we have to go through the fear and confusion of Maundy Thursday (his arrest), the grief of Good Friday (his death) and the silence of Holy Saturday. These can be difficult days, but there can’t be a resurrection without there first being a death.
As you travel through this week, think about the path Jesus followed. Then think about your own path. Does it lead up or down? Does it end in material wealth or spiritual riches? To whom does it bring glory?
Nouwen writes that “each one of us has to seek out his or her own descending way of love… The descending way is a way that is concealed in each person’s heart.”
Each of us has to find his or her own way. Though we travel together, your way will be different from mine. Just remember that Easter is not the end, but the beginning of a journey to a new way of life.
Divine Overtones 