God Became Flesh & Dwelt Among Us
The people who lost life and home in the tornadoes will be in the news a few days and then forgotten. Long after the politicians get their pictures made in the rubble, what will be forgotten is how long recovery takes if recovery is possible. It will be years before the scars are gone.
The victims of hurricane Ida are still struggling. Some parts of our parish still has no electricity. Some homes are abandoned while many businesses will never open again. The scars are everywhere.
It’s not the best Christmas for the victims of unnamed tornadoes or named hurricanes, or the devastating fires in the northwest. Some family circles are broken by the loss of loved ones. The gifts under the tree are fewer because money is tight or non existent.
In times like these we get to the heart of the human condition. We are broken and damaged and covered in the scars of life. This is the world into which Jesus comes to us. It is not to perfect people nor to perfect churches with perfect buildings and perfect music. Jesus comes to those who have been stripped to the core to reveal our dark hearts stained by our sin and the brokenness that grips us.
God became flesh. God is no stranger to our difficulties. But it’s worse than we think. God became flesh to bear our sin, to cleanse and forgive the darkest hearts, the worst sinners, and those who have lost all hope.
It is Christmas and we celebrate the incarnation, the enfleshment of God, fully God and fully man. For those who have been immersed into his grace, it is not just a cultural celebration. Christmas is the joyous celebration of new life, eternal life, a promise that all things will be made right.
We celebrate but we also wait. One Great Day, he will come. Those who have placed their lives in his hands by faith will be made whole and live in his presence forever.
Won’t you join us in following Jesus, the babe in a manger who will return as king?
