Figuring out what it means

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

This weekend, we celebrate the miraculous mystery of Christmas - the day that God became human.

It took the church centuries of often bitter debates and fights to determine what that meant - that is, who Jesus was (Second Person of the Trinity with both human and divine natures united in one person).

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The doctrinal part has long been settled, but the struggle over what it means to each of us continues.

While the incarnation means many things, consider these three:

• First, the Second Person of the Trinity became human, that is, like us in every way, except sin (Heb 4:15). In other words, while Clark Kent came to earth to become Superman, Jesus came to earth to be man and can sympathize with our weaknesses and failings.

• Second, Jesus enjoyed life and the pleasures of life. Thus, as followers of Jesus, we do not have to denounce the joys of life. Indeed, if that's what we do, perhaps we're really following John the Baptist. As Jesus said, his own critics called him a glutton and drunkard and friend of tax collectors and prostitutes (Lk 7:34). While no one would advocate gluttony or drunkenness, the incarnation proves that God gave us the riches of the earth and our physicality for us to enjoy (Gn 1:27-31 tells us the same thing). And he gifted us with compassion to reach out to the downtrodden and everyone in need so they too can enjoy life to the fullest.

• Third, the coming of Jesus as a baby foreshadowed our life and mission following his resurrection. Nothing is more helpless and dependent than a baby. The arrival of Jesus as a baby was an act of faith by God, who trusted that the fragile Body of Christ would be safe in human hands. The final commissioning of the disciples by Jesus (Mt 28:16-20), was also an act of faith. In so doing, he trusted the Body of Christ to bring about the reign of God. The birth of Christ reminds us of both these sacred trusts.

Merry Christmas.