Fr Ben Garren

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Kenosis is one of those ‘seminary words’ they tell us will confuse the greater public. I find, however, that it is of much use to share these words as places of contemplation and prayer. To meditate on kenosis is to ask what do we need to release, especially in regard to status or power that disconnects us from one another. The Logos, the Divine Word that spoke time, space, existence into being… poured out status and power and was born a struggling infant. This is the kenosis we are often asked to ponder but I have always found it a tad inapproachable, the concepts involved are too great. Today’s feast of St. Roch, patron saint of dogs, has always been more accessible to me. 

Roch was noble born with wealth and status. He was living a generally devout life until the Black Death came to his community. He had the choice to use his wealth and status to sequester himself as the plague ravaged his community, a choice made by many nobles. Instead he exhausted his wealth helping his community and joined with those caring for the ill. When he contracted the plague he choose to not burden his community but went to the woods to die, there a dog came and administered to him bringing daily bread and licking his woulds… and Roch was miraculously healed of the plague. Roch then chose to travel around Europe assisting communities struggling with the plague, with his dog as a constant companion. In France they were falsely arrested as spice and incarcerated. At any point Roch could have claimed his nobel title and been set free. He chose, instead, to live and serve his fellow prisoners and make their fate his own. After five years in prison he died there. 

Meditation on kenosis is a meditation on choice. Roch’s choice to be in the midst of those suffering from the plague. Roch’s choice to walk into the woods when he was sick. Roch’s choice to stay in prison. This is different from those who had no choice but to try to survive the plague amidst poverty, different from anyone who has been forced out of their community and into the wilderness, different from those who are imprisoned and have no ready recourse to freedom. When we meditate on kenosis we are meditating on where in our lives can we be like Roch and choose to be amidst the oppressed, the marginalized, the downtrodden. It is always a question of how can we step away from places of power to be with those who are powerless. Take a few moments today to meditate on kenosis.

Peace,
Ben