He Emptied Himself November 7

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, 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. Philippians 2: 5-7

Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God. Luke 14:15

Piety

God, help us to empty ourselves for your service. Instill in us the attitude your Son exhibited in his life – as a servant to the servants of God. Help us to remove the obstacles to your friendship and make a commitment to spend time with you each week in piety, study and action. Amen.

Study

Although we are admonished not to judge other people, who among us reading this will not recognize the phrase, “He is full of himself.” This is a euphemism that many of us have been guilty of using when we encounter people who are overly proud of their accomplishments and are not shy about letting us know.

Who among us has not been guilty of padding the resume a little to help land that next job or promotion? As someone who has spent his life in public relations and media relations, I am often searching for the best light to shine upon a given situation. Thus the “spin” might divert attention away from problems or weaknesses.

While we can say many things about Jesus, I doubt anyone ever thought that he was overly proud. Or that he boasted of his accomplishments. Or that he was “full of himself.” Instead, St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians, that Jesus emptied himself, gave up his divine existence, came to Earth in human form and became a servant of all to the point that on the night before he died, he washed the feet of his friends. As the soldiers stood at the foot of the cross mocking him, he did not bring down a legion of angels but asked God to forgive us before he died.

Today’s first reading reminds us of the contrast between Jesus’ life and the life of Adam. Unlike Adam in the Genesis story, Jesus, though in the form of God (“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Genesis 1:26-27), did not reach out for equality with God. Instead, Jesus reached down for equality with the lowest servants on earth. Adam on the other hand, did not resist the temptation to be like God. (“The moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods.” Genesis 3:5-6).

The parable of the great dinner further explains how the classes of Jewish society will be turned upside down before the table of the Lord. God’s very own “chosen people” rejected Jesus’ invitation to share in the banquet. In the face of this rejection, Jesus extended the invitation to other Jews whose identification as the poor, crippled, blind, and lame classifies them among those who recognize their need for salvation, and to Gentiles.

Action

How will you accept the invitation to the Great Dinner? Where will you sit? Who will you bring along? Governor Tim Kaine or John Yancy Schmitt?

This week, the state of Virginia is once again poised to execute someone in your name. The bishops of Richmond and Arlington – along with our shepherds throughout the country – have resoundingly rejected the death penalty as an option.

Please take time to write to Gov. Kaine and tell him that you don’t want Virginia to kill John Yancey Schmitt in your name. Express sympathy for the family and friends of Earl Shelton Dunning, and explain that you are not seeking to excuse violent crime or downplay the suffering caused. However, for faith-based reasons, ask the governor to commute John Yancey Schmitt’s death sentence to life in prison without parole. Ask him to order a moratorium on executions and create a commission to study the capital punishment system in Virginia.

Governor Tim Kaine
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad St
Richmond VA 23219
Fax: 1 804 371-6351
Email, via: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm.
Salutation: Dear Governor

John Yancey Schmitt would be the 98th person executed in Virginia since the death penalty was reinstated. Governor Kaine has the ability to respect all life and commute the death sentence to life without parole.

CASE INFORMATION from http://www.vadp.org/:

November 9th has been set for the execution of John Yancey Schmitt who was sentenced to death for the murder of Shelton Earl Dunning, a security guard during the robbery of a Bon Air Nations Bank on Feb. 17, 1999. The issue here is not guilt or innocence but the specter, once again of prosecutorial misconduct and the fact that capital punishment as practiced in Virginia is not reserved for the “worst of the worst” crimes. Schmitt accepts responsibility for the accidental death of Earl Shelton Dunning. Dunning died as a result of a gunshot wound to his chest during a struggle with Schmitt. The question is should John Yancey Schmitt be executed for that murder?

Note: Texas has two executions scheduled – November 8 and November 16th.