December 29th, 2024

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
December 29, 2024
A good friend and colleague, the late Rev. John Auer, preached a sermon in which he said, “...the illimitable incarnation of God in human form–the Word of Life made flesh of love... in this, God decides to take an insider’s approach, becoming one of us...” (Sermon entitled: “Hail Mary! The Beginning is Near”). John’s idea of God taking an insider’s approach has brought both comfort and challenge. God has never been one to see divinity as something to ‘exploit’ (Philippians 2:6), but has continued to find ways of bridging the perceived divide between the eternal and the finite. Of course, this “illimitable incarnation” found in Bethlehem will grow into an adult who will invite people to become imitators of the God who has and will continue to choose to come among us. How do we imitate the One who traverses the barriers and infiltrates the reality of those who perceive God as transcendent and distant? Maybe God has always been a whole lot closer than any of us imagined.

O God of Incarnate Grace, with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension, I humbly request your guidance on how I can most effectively reflect your profound and intimate approach. May your love be my beacon of encouragement, for I am fully aware of the path you have taken. Amen.