December Newsletter: “The Incarnation: “God with Us”
In a feed trough in a small stable over 2000 years ago, salvation appeared as God the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer was revealed in a small infant in swaddling clothes. It is a hard thing to fathom isn’t it? Theologians have wrestled for years with this core doctrine of our faith. We call this blessed mystery the Incarnation. “This foundational Christian position holds that the divine nature of the Son of God was perfectly united with human nature in one divine Person, Jesus, making him both truly God and truly man. The theological term for this is hypostatic union. [1]” Stated simply, God’s love for creation was so beyond our imagine, that he walked among us. God accepted us and by this work of salvation, we are healed; our relationship with God is restored in the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This blessed mystery of our faith is something we claim each week in the words of the Creed and in the prayers of the Eucharist.
In Eucharistic Prayer “D” the incarnation is proclaimed in these words, “Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.” [2] The Incarnation (God with us) is the proclamation so clearly expressed in this prayer, and in all the prayers of the Eucharist. The mystery that is central to our faith is “the God who created us, saves us, and sustains us.” What good news is this for all of creation!
During this Advent and Christmas season, my prayer is that we all come to know fully the peace of God, in the good news of the mystery, “God is with us.” Terri, Erica and I wish you all a very blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year.
Peace,
Fr. Eric+
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnation
[2] 1979 Book of Common Prayer
