Christ Gave Us The Example Of Humility (Phil. 2:1-11)

If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. 3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, 4 each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others. 5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, 6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This passage is referred to as the Christ Hymn because it poetically reflects on the humility and exaltation of Christ.  It is an important Christological text because it touches on Christ’s preexistence - he was in the form of God; his abasement (vv. 7-9) - he emptied himself taking on the form of an obedient slave who suffered and died for others; and his exaltation (vv. 9-11) – God exalted him because, through his obedience and humility, he fulfilled his mission on earth so God exalted him to recognize his divine nature that he shared in the Trinity before the creation of the world.  

Paul reminds the Philippians of their shared experiences of love, comfort, and the Holy Spirit and encourages the community to live in the unity of Christ. They are encouraged and strengthened by Christ, consoled by love for each other, and they share in the Holy Spirit which unites them.  If they share the unity of mind, heart, and purpose Paul’s joy would be complete.  They should not act out of selfishness or pride but humbly think of others as more important than themselves and put the needs of others first.  They should use Christ’s attitude as their model.  

Christ’s essential nature was of the same being as God’s which was shown through the works he performed.  He humbled himself and took on our human nature, making him fully human and fully divine.  Christ, rather than grasping at his essential divine nature, allowed himself to be stripped of his human dignity, the same human dignity Adam and Eve had at creation (Gen 1:26-27).  When Christ stripped himself of his essential character as God and took on the fullness of a human being, he did not seek to be equal to God as Adam and Eve did (Gen 3:5-7).  Because his essential nature was God, Jesus did not have to suffer death.  But he was obedient to the Father (Lk. 22:42) and allowed himself to be powerless, to be treated like a slave and suffer humiliation, pain, and human death. – He did it all to reconcile mankind with God.  God rewarded Christ’s obedience by exalting him to his original honor as Lord over all creation.  Everyone must pay homage to the Risen Christ by kneeling in his presence.  Christ reclaimed all things for God and put them under God’s sovereignty.

Lord Jesus Christ, my rock, my redeemer, you restored us to the dignity Adam and Eve had with God when they were created. Let our hearts be steadfast towards you and may the New Covenant made with your blood be constantly on our minds.  Grant, we pray, that we, who desire to know your mystery on earth, may merit the grace of your redemption in heaven.  Amen.

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.