Monday, April 3: He became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
This week we will continue our look at the Nicene Creed with reflections from St. Thomas staff. Today Rev. Roxane Gwyn offers a reflection on the part of the creed that states
He became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
Jesus saved us not only through his death, but with his whole life. The incarnation is the beginning of that life on earth. As the Gospel of John begins, the Word became flesh and lived among us. When the Nicene Creed was taking shape in the early years of the church, many thought it absurd that Jesus could be fully human. I love the phrase scandal of the incarnation, that the idea of God coming to us in human form was outrageous, unbelievable.
What about the mystery of the incarnation? Another early church view, expressed by Irenaus, is this: How could the human race go to God if God had not come to us? Ah, perhaps that's how we approach the unexplainable, how we settle into the mystery: by asking questions that never end.
The incarnation, Jesus born of a woman and made human, brings him right down into our very lives, thanks be to God. He lands in a body on earth, a body just like ours, thus he knows us intimately. God's steady revelation of love comes to us through our brother Jesus. How can these things be?
When the angel visits Mary, asking her permission for God to become human, what does she say? She says yes, she will indeed birth the savior of humankind. What's our part in all this? We too can say yes, birthing Jesus and his all-inclusive love into our world every single day The incarnation changed everything. That's easy to say, but what about you? Does the incarnation transform your life?
Collect for Monday in Holy Week: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
