Tuesday – December 3, 2019

Scripture

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1.14

A Word of Hope

As the Season of Advent begins, what can be said about the divine incarnation? There are at least two elements to consider as we evaluate this divine enfleshment:  the birth of a special and unique baby and how God actually became real within this baby’s body.

Those early Jewish followers of Jesus were unlikely to ask questions about how or where Jesus was born. Their attention would have centered on what was witnessed, heard and experienced while being present with this very special person. They knew Jesus by his tangible body. They touched him, saw him, (probably) smelled his breath and bodily scent, and heard his voice.

But what attracted those followers to Jesus was not any of his tangibility; rather, something intangible, almost magnetic about all that he said and did. It was this intangible aspect of Jesus that bound them to him and his message. What was it that made it so compelling for them? It was the presence of the intangible essence of the Creator God revealed through the Jesus experience. This was much more than the Divine Presence, which infuses all space and atoms, even those in Jesus. This was a unique, intangible self-revelation of God which had infused into his human form.

God had become enfleshed in one human being. The Creator chose to come into humanity to offer the gift of intimate relationship not only with Jesus but potentially with every human being. Finally, the Creator: creation relationship became a reality!

Prayer

In this Season of Anticipation, let us contemplate on the reality of the Divine in the tangible form of a tiny baby.

Devotion Author

Donald (Luke) Day
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare