There is a strange logic in the Gospel: the way up begins by going down.
The world tells us: Climb higher. Be noticed. Be important. Protect your position. But today, St. Paul tells us: “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus.”
And what is the attitude of Jesus?
Philippians 2 gives us one of the most beautiful passages in the New Testament. Many scholars believe Paul is quoting an early Christian hymn. And the hymn has two movements: Jesus goes down, and God raises Him up.
First, Jesus goes down.
Though He was “in the form of God,” He did not cling to His equality with God. Instead, He “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave.”
The Greek word is kenosis—self-emptying.
This does not mean Jesus stopped being God. Rather, He showed us what God is truly like. God does not use His power to dominate. He uses His power to love and to serve.
Jesus goes lower and lower:
from divine glory to our humanity,
from Master to servant,
from obedience to death,
and finally, “even death on a cross.”
The cross was one of the most humiliating forms of death in the ancient world. Jesus went all the way down.
Then comes the second movement: God raises Him up.
“Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.”
Jesus does not exalt Himself. The Father exalts Him.
That is the great paradox of Christian life: Jesus goes down in humility, and the Father raises Him up in glory.
And Paul says: Have this same attitude. That is the challenge for us.
We spend so much energy trying to go up—protecting our reputation, proving that we are right, wanting recognition, holding on to titles, positions, and privileges.
But Jesus shows us another way.
Sometimes the holiest thing we can do is to go down: to say sorry first, to listen instead of insisting, to serve without being noticed, to help without expecting thanks, to choose kindness when our pride wants the last word.
And perhaps today we can ask ourselves: What am I still clinging to that prevents me from serving others? My pride? My position? My need to be appreciated? My need always to be right?
Jesus “emptied Himself.” Perhaps following Him means that every day, we also empty ourselves a little—less ego, more love; less privilege, more service; less of ourselves, more of Christ.
Because in the end, the Christian life is not about making ourselves important. It is about becoming like Jesus. Go down in humility. Bend down in service. Empty yourself in love.
And leave the lifting up to God. For the way of Jesus is clear: the road to glory passes through humble and loving service.