The Incarnation

  “O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer.”  We pray these words at the beginning of every Easter Vigil because they powerfully summarize the awesome mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. 

                In essence, the Incarnation reveals two things.  First, the divine dimension of the Incarnation shows the unfathomable love and mercy of God.  God’s leaving the glory of the heavens to dwell on the sod of the earth in the person of Jesus of Nazareth shows an all but unbelievable care for humans.  Second, the human dimension of the Incarnation reveals the great dignity of the human person, one so immense that God assumes it as His own.  Furthermore, the Incarnation unites divinity and humanity in such an intimate way that the bond can never be broken.   The result is unimaginable blessing for humankind -- sin and death no longer subject all humanity; rather, communion with God forever in heaven becomes our true destination.  As Church father St. Athanasius beautifully teaches:  “For the Son of God became man so that man could become like God.” 

                The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is the essence of the good news residing at the very heart of the Gospel message for each and every person.  Session Six of “Why Catholic?” will explore the mystery of the Incarnation.  It will further inspire us to reflect on both God’s love for us and the transformation of our human nature.  Finally, it will move us to ask if we allow Christ to dwell within us and if our own lives facilitate Christ’s incarnation in our culture and in the world?