Inbox Inspiration: Incarnation and incarnation: December 26, 2018 - January 2, 2019

December 26, 2018

Incarnation and incarnation – 1

Dear Friends,
When I think of Christmas, I find myself in wonder at what it is really about.
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is about a oneness between God and us.
It is not just that God takes on our humanity in Jesus.
It is not just the Incarnation of God’s Son born of Mary.
Additionally, through the birth of the Son, all of humanity is transformed.
We might state it in various ways, such as:
Through God taking on our humanity, we take on God’s divinity.
Or, God has made explicit in Jesus that we are inspirited matter.
Or, God has made it clear in the birth of Jesus that humanity is sacred.
So, the Incarnation proclaims that God is also incarnate, in a different way, but incarnate in each of us.
I find myself in wonder, in awe of this.
This is something of the joyful message of Christmas.

“When God gives of God’s self, one of two things happens: either flesh is inspirited or spirit is enfleshed. It is really very clear. I am somewhat amazed that more have not recognized this simple pattern: God’s will is incarnation. And against all of our godly expectations, it appears that for God, matter really matters. God, who is spirit, chose to materialize! We call it the Christ mystery.”

From Daily Meditation: December 21, 2012 by Richard Rohr. (1943—. Catholic priest and religious, Franciscan friar. Author of books and articles. Director of Center for Action and Contemplation in New Mexico.)

[More thoughts on Christmas next week, January 2, 2019.]

May the light and love of Christ guide us today and always. Amen.
Father Michael Schleupner

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January 2, 2019

Incarnation and incarnation – 2

Dear Friends, 
The Incarnation of God in Jesus is the basis of our faith.
This has radically altered our humanity.
Why?
Because the Incarnation of the Son of God effects God’s incarnation in all of us.
God is present in and with our humanity.
Our humanity is transformed.
Now, all we need to do is to respond positively to Emmanuel– God is with us.
In other words, we now need to become what we already are.
This is no small task.
In truth, it is the task of a lifetime.
But, we undertake this
because we are confident and assured that God –
that Emmanuel, God is with usalready.

“This Creator of ours is patiently determined to put matter and spirit together, almost as if the one were not complete without the other. This Lord of life seems to desire a perfect, but free, unification between body and soul. So much so, in fact, that God appears to be willing to wait for the creatures to will and choose this unity for themselves – or it does not fully happen. Our yes really matters, just like Mary’s did.” 

From Daily Meditation: December 21, 2012 by Richard Rohr. (1943—. Catholic priest and religious, Franciscan friar. Author of books and articles. Director of Center for Action and Contemplation in New Mexico.)

[More thoughts on Christmas in last week’s Inbox Inspirations, December 26, 2018.]

May the light and love of Christ guide us today and always. Amen.
Father Michael Schleupner