The Power of the Powerless

by Deacon Jeff Strom  |  12/11/2022  |  Images of Faith

While today’s kings, dictators, presidents and rulers are all about worldly power, Jesus turned the tables and became powerless as we read in Philippians (2:6-9) “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, Jesus humbled himself, becoming obedient to death on a Cross. Because of this, God highly exalted him.” Jesus shows us the infinite power of His unconditional love. The power of the powerless is love, “The Power of Love.” Yes, I guess that was a hit song by Huey Lewis and the News. Sorry if I made that tune play in your head for a while.

The power of the powerless is love in our Lord's birth, as we begin Advent this week and prepare for Christmas. Luke's account of the birth of Jesus brings up powerful kings and people like Emperor Augustus Caesar. But the story is really about two nobodies making their way from one forgotten corner of the empire to another. When Mary and Joseph arrived in the city of David, there was no room at the inn. Jesus is born the baby king, as Bishop Barron tells us. It is the story of two rival emperors, Caesar, the king of the world, and Jesus, the baby king. While Caesar rules from his palace in Rome, Jesus has no place to lay his head. While Caesar has far-reaching power, Jesus is wrapped in swaddling clothes. While Caesar surrounds himself with a large, well-paid staff, Jesus is surrounded by animals and shepherds from the field, yet the powerless baby king is more powerful than Augustus. There is even an army of angels in the skies over Bethlehem. All four of the Gospels play out as a struggle ending in the deadly business of the Cross, between the worldly powers and the power of Christ, between the spirit of the age and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not just a kind prophet with a gentle message of forgiveness. He's God coming in person to assume command. He is the Lord, the Word made flesh. This is the subversive arrival of the King of the Universe, assuming his throne with the infinite power of love.

The power of the powerless is love in our Lord's death. Jesus, on the Cross, was detached from wealth and worldly goods. He was stripped naked, and his hands, fixed to the wood of the Cross, could grasp at nothing. Jesus, on the Cross, was detached from pleasure, underwent the most agonizing physical torment, and experienced extreme psychological and spiritual suffering. Jesus, on the Cross, was powerless, unable to move or defend himself. He had no honor or esteem, was tortured, and was mocked by the crowd as a common criminal. If you want true happiness, despise what Jesus despised, and love what He loved on the Cross. He despised the temptations of wealth, pleasure, power, and honor. He loved the will of God the Father and showed us the infinite power of His unconditional love.

Forming the Flock continued Finally, the power of the powerless is love in our Lord's birth and death. The baby king in Bethlehem was more powerful than Caesar and all the kings, dictators, presidents and rulers of our world. So, again, if you want true happiness, despise what Jesus despised and love what he loved on the Cross. He despised the temptations of wealth, pleasure, power, and honor to love the will of God the Father.