Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity ^… for this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2: 14, 17

 

And in the Incarnation
the whole human race recovers the dignity of the image of God.
Henceforth, any attack even on the least of men
is an attack on Christ, who took the form of man,
and in his own Person restored the image of God
in all that bears a human form.
Through fellowship and communion with the incarnate Lord,
we recover our true humanity,
and at the same time we are delivered
from that individualism which is the consequence of sin,
and retrieve our solidarity with the whole human race.
By being partakers of Christ incarnate,
we are partakers in the whole humanity which he bore.
We now know that we have been taken up
and borne in the humanity of Jesus,
and therefore that new nature we now enjoy means
that we too must bear the sins and sorrows of others.
The incarnate Lord makes his followers the brothers of all mankind.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

_________________

I’m reminded after every long day in my clinic, weighted down by the sorrows of the people I am asked to help — how much greater was the weight borne by God as mere baby delivered by woman to become humanity with us and for us.

His incarnate presence unites us all as brothers and sisters to each other, whether or not we speak the same language, whether or not our skin color is the same, whether or not we have great riches or dire need.

This is the truth of the God of love, that we should love one another, even after a week such as this — we are delivered by Him who was delivered.
EPG

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kviDU8VTWNw

All poor men and humble,
All lame men who stumble,
Come haste ye, nor feel ye afraid;

For Jesus, our treasure,
With love past all measure,
In lowly poor manger was laid.

Though wise men who found him
Laid rich gifts around him,
yet oxen they gave him their hay;
And Jesus in beauty
Accepted their duty,
Contented in manger he lay.
Then haste we to show him
The praises we owe him;
Our service he ne’er can despise;
Whose love still is able
To show us that stable
Where softly in manger he lies.
Poverty Carol (Welsh)

 

 

• This is the truth sent from above
  The truth of God, the God of love
  Therefore don’t turn me from your door
  But hearken will both rich and poor
• The first thing that I do relate
  Is that God did man create
  The next thing which to you I’ll tell
  Woman was made with man to dwell
• And after that, ’twas God’s own choice
  To place them both in Paradise,
  There to remain of evil free
  Except they ate of such a tree.
• But they did eat, which was a sin,
  And so their ruin did begin,
  Ruined themselves, both you and me,
  And all of their posterity.
• Thus we were heirs to endless woes
  Till God and Lord did interpose
  And so a promise soon did run
  That He would redeem us by His Son
• And at that season of the year
  Our blessed redeemer did appear
  He here did live and here did preach
  And many thousands he did teach
• Thus He in love to us behaved
  To show us how we must be saved
  And if you want to know the way
  Be pleased to hear what He did say
  ~The Truth from Above — Traditional English Carol