"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14)
Think about that passage for a bit. Allow the words of St. John the Divine to sink in deep and ponder how unspeakable this single event really was. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, I believe, says it the best:
"God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life."
(CCC 1)
To think that God would willingly take on the very flesh and bone of His own created creatures is mind boggling. Whenever one thinks of "God" or a "god" I would presume that they would perceive someone who is virtually untouchable or out of the grasp of the human intellect to fully comprehend; let alone to compare himself to. God, to the average person, is somebody who is on such a higher level in every way that to think the average person could even fathom God as a man is simply too much to wrap our head around. A "god" would need to have certain characteristics. He would need to be a super hero of sorts having the ability to do things no human could do. Perhaps things beyond what Christ did by defying the laws of physics and forgiving sins. Throughout human history many people, namely political leaders, have claimed to be "God" or at least a "god". However, in every case the effects of their own mortality eventually kicked in and clearly shown that this was obviously not the case. All people have a different idea of what God or a god is supposed to be and/or do according to their own presuppositions. Nevertheless, I think it's safe to say that the notion of God being (or becoming) a man seems too far fetched or something found only in ones own creative imagination.
But this is exactly what God did. The very Creator of everything we see walked and talked as we do. In an act of complete humility He came to us not in pomp and ceremony but in the raw confines of a hidden away cave on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Allow the reality of this truth to penetrate your heart. Think about how the all powerful Creator of everything that exists came to His own Creation in complete poverty. He could've had it all. He could've chosen to be born in the upper echelon of the time and been brought up as king that way. He could've chosen to be born in wealth and have respect from birth but He didn't. Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, freely chose to be born almost without notice. Hence, the words St. John speak volumes, "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not." (John 1:10) This passage only goes to show that the world back then, so much like today, didn't have their priorities straight.
God created us for Him; to love Him in return. Going to such great lengths to show us His love for us I marvel at the worlds ingratitude. Perhaps it's simply too difficult to comprehend for some. One might think that if God became human everyone would easily recognize Him. As we've seen above that is not the case, however, as Christ said, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that through Him it might be saved." Jesus gives us the perfect modal of how the human life is to be lived. Our world thrives on power and influence so when Christ came in the flesh the world didn't recognize Him as such because He didn't fit the world's description.
We see the beginnings of the full manifestation of God's love for us in the birth of Christ. Foretold centuries beforehand and fulfilled to a tee when the fullness of time had come. Imagine the stillness of that very night some two thousand years ago. The heavens were all in awe and amazement. The angels look on in wonder as for they have never even taken on flesh. Their very Creator and God stooped even lower than them. Everything was going as planned as the will of God the Father was taking shape.
This Christmas season we urge our readers to reflect on the humility of God. Take some time before Holy Mass or at home in silence and allow the Holy Spirit to infuse you with the magnitude of how great and incomprehensible the incarnation is and was. Place yourself in the secluded cave beside Our Lady and St. Joseph and ponder on what you might have said or thought. Imagine the stillness and calm over all of creatron at that moment. Imagine the Blessed Virgin picking up the Baby Jesus and handing Him to you to hold. Draw closer to our Lord Himself as you ever so gently hold your very own Creator and God in your arms. The very one who shall redeem you through His suffering and love unspeakable. Imagine all the angels present with you and around you bowing in complete submission to a baby. Watch as the shepherds and wise men approach and offer the newborn Messiah gifts. Look back on your own life and reflect on how you have treated God and if necessary repent and embrace His love like never before. Ask God to grant you the strength to submit to Him your life and love. Unto us a Savior is born, Christ the King!
LOREM NATIVITATIS!!!
~Merry Christmas!~
Copyright 2011 New Voice for Broken Souls
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