Advent and the Path of Descent

The Path of Descent is a right path for the beginning of Advent. The early church mystics based their idea of spiritual descent on Paul’s instructions to the Philippians: “have that mind in you which was in Christ Jesus, who emptied himself, pouring out his life for others.”

In today’s terms we would say, “begin the process of emptying yourself of your ego, so you can grow in wisdom and insight.” Jesus said we can’t see because we have a log in our eye. His hearers must have laughed when he used that metaphor.

In Preparing for Christmas, Richard Rohr calls John the Baptist the Master of Descent. John says, “I must decrease while he [the Messiah] must increase.”

I grew up saying something like that — “less of me and more of Thee.” The only problem with my theology then is that it also meant, “me bad, God good.” John Wesley did not embrace that dualistic “theology of the worm.” He believed that we have within us a divine spark, sickened by sin. These days I call it the ego — the drive to build, grow, be in charge, be noticed — to be my own god.

The problem with embarking on emptying oneself of the Ego is that it can’t be accomplished by the Ego! For me the process includes prayer, meditation, scripture, worship, service, Holy Communion. Entering into those activities forces me into a receptive mode instead of a directive mode. Wesley called these the Means of Grace — the means by which God’s grace can bubble up from that divine spark.

He included Holy Conversation, which means sharing on the heart level. We are hard-wired for community. We can’t go it alone. To experience community we need to … empty ourselves of ourselves, so our hearts are open and there is space. Space for others. Space for The Christ.

The Path of Descent is not easy. But it offers space, lightness, joy. Susan Yarbrough, talking about her book, Bench Pressed, said, “Listening to the stories of immigrants broke my heart. And a broken heart is an open heart.”

I wish you a Joyous Journey. A Path of Descent.