JESUS’ CALL TO VULNERABILITY (IT SCARES ME)

This Lenten season I am thinking about Jesus’ making himself vulnerable.  I think it fair to say that Jesus died because he made himself vulnerable.  I do not like the implications.

Vulnerability has an interesting relationship with power.  Generally, we (I certainly) avoid vulnerability with one of two expressions of power, shields or spears.  We might empower ourselves with various psychological defensive barriers of protection (shields), or we might become the aggressive bullies (spears).  (I even alternate between the two.)  Strangely, the powerlessness of vulnerability emanates its own “power.”  It is like light coming into darkness; sometimes those in darkness do not want to be exposed without their shields or spears.  Jesus’ vulnerability displays his absolute God-dependence.  Jesus’ vulnerability exposes the need of all people to be completely God-submitted in order to be embraced by Life.  Some receive that revelation with joy and embrace Jesus; some shy away to rely upon themselves; and some try to eliminate the vulnerable Jesus.

Vulnerability starts, of course, with the Incarnation.  Paul lays it on the line for all Christians in Phil 2:1-11.  If Christians are to have any proper response to being united with Christ, it must be this: lowering ourselves beneath others (1-4), which means creating a state of mind (a command to obey) that is found in Christ Jesus (5), who made himself nothing to take the nature of a servant, and who humbled himself becoming obedient to death (6-8).  The proper response to Jesus is nothing less than that.  Another way to say this is that Jesus made himself vulnerable to save vulnerable people who must recognize their vulnerability.  Christians have that same calling.

Lord, I do not really like the implications of being called to become vulnerable like Jesus.  I balk at dropping my defenses.  I resist becoming vulnerable.  But, once again, I know I belong to Jesus, and I do know that deep down I want you to change me.  Help me to become a vulnerable servant obedient unto death.  Please accept my hesitant prayer.  Amen.