杏MAP导航

By Seán-Patrick Lovett

Unless you are a theologian, the word kenosis is not one you are likely to encounter every day. It comes from Greek and is used by St Paul in his Letter to the Philippians to describe how Jesus 鈥渆mptied Himself鈥� in order to be totally open and receptive to the will of His Father.

The Bishops of Central America are theologians. They understood exactly what the 杏MAP导航 was referring to. All the more so because kenosis is a word St Oscar Romero uses to describe what the Church needs to be: a humble and poor Church. Because 鈥渋n the Church, Christ lives among us鈥�.  

颁丑谤颈蝉迟鈥檚 kenosis is young

杏MAP导航 Francis is in Panama to celebrate the 34^th World Youth Day. He told the Bishops it was 鈥渁 unique opportunity鈥� to encounter, and draw closer to, the experiences of young people, 鈥渟o full of hope and desires, but also many hurts and scars鈥�. With them, he said, 鈥渨e can interpret our world in a new way and recognize the signs of the times鈥�.

Young people are like a barometer, said the 杏MAP导航: they tell us 鈥渨here we stand as a community and as a society鈥�. In his discourse, 杏MAP导航 Francis made frequent references to the recent Synod of Bishops on Young People. 鈥淭he future demands that we respect the present鈥�, he said. It鈥檚 a question of dignity, a question of 鈥渃ultural self-esteem鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 then invited the Bishops to reflect on the issue of migration: 鈥淢any migrants have a young face鈥�, he said. 鈥淭hey are not afraid to take risks and to leave everything behind鈥� in their search for a better future. 鈥漌e cannot remain indifferent鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淲hereas the world discards people, 颁丑谤颈蝉迟鈥檚 kenosis does not鈥�. 

颁丑谤颈蝉迟鈥檚 kenosis is priestly

Returning to the example of St Oscar Romero, the 杏MAP导航 described the murdered Archbishop of San Salvador as 鈥渘o human resources manager鈥�. Rather, he was 鈥渁 father, a friend, and a brother鈥�.

鈥淗e can serve as a yardstick鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渢o measure our own hearts as bishops鈥�, asking 鈥淗ow much does the life of my priests affect me?鈥�. Priests, he continued are 鈥渙n the front lines鈥�they need our understanding and encouragement, our fatherhood鈥�.

颁丑谤颈蝉迟鈥檚 kenosis, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渋s the supreme expression of the Father鈥檚 compassion鈥�. A parish priest needs to encounter a father 鈥渋n whom he can see a reflection of himself, not an administrator concerned about 鈥榬eviewing the troops鈥欌��.

颁丑谤颈蝉迟鈥檚 kenosis is poor

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his address to the Bishops of Central America by reminding them that 鈥渢hinking with the Church鈥� means 鈥渢hinking with the suffering and hope-filled people of God鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 warned about a 鈥渟piritual worldliness鈥�, one that puts 鈥渁 religious and pious veneer over the desire for power and influence, over vanity and even pride and arrogance鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 confirmed how the Church is only free when 鈥渃entred in the kenosis of her Lord鈥�.

Again quoting Archbishop Romero, he said the Church 鈥渄oes not want her strength to be in the backing of the powerful or political leaders鈥�. Instead, she 鈥渁dvances with noble detachment鈥�. This translates into clear and practical signs, the 杏MAP导航 concluded: 鈥淚t challenges us and calls us to examine our consciences about our decisions and priorities in the use of our resources, influence, and position.鈥�