The Incarnation Means No Separation

The Incarnation of Christ,
the union of divinity with humanity,
means there is no separation
between God and humankind,
between heaven and earth.

The only separation is in our own minds.

“For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so.” (Romans 8:5-7)

There may be distinction, but in the ontological reality of things, there is no separation. How could there be, for the Incarnation is all-encompassing of humankind. There is only one humanity, of which we all partake, and by the Incarnation, Christ has become that humanity.

This is why St. Paul can speak as universally of Christ as he does of Adam:

“Consequently, just as one trespass [Adam’s] resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act [Christ’s] resulted in justification and life for all people.” (Romans 5:18)

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

As many as were lost in Adam are found in Christ.

We Are Not Our Passions

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3-8)

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:2-5)

The Transfiguration of Everything

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

“God made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (Ephesians 1:9-10)

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” (Revelation 21:5)

When Imagination Bodied Forth

A reading of John 1:1 and 14, mindful of the depth of meaning of the Greek word Logos, and playing off of Shakespeare’s description of the Poet in A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

“And as Imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the Poet’s pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local Habitation and a Name.”

What We Become By Grace

 

The Incarnation and the Way of Human Being

“For us humans and for our salvation He came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was Incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became Human.” ~ Nicene Creed

We Would Never Have Begun to Be

 

Time and Space and the Incarnation

The Incarnation is
the transfiguration
of everything.

Always, Everywhere, in Everyone

The Primary Thing is this: Christ the Logos, the Word of God, was with God, Face-to-Face, and indeed is God. All things were created by Him, and He is the True Light who gives Light to everyone in the world. The Word became human nature and dwelt in us. Because He is God and in eternal fellowship with the Father, the Word, Jesus Christ, has made God known to us. (John 1)

Experiencing the Transfiguration of Time

 

Human Being Itself

For us humans and for our
salvation, he came down
from heaven and by the
Holy Spirit was Incarnate
of the Virgin Mary and
became human being.
~ Nicene Creed

That All May Enter His Glory

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)

“Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

The Interconnectedness of All Things

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

Christ, the Cross and the Image of God

“Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him — all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers — all things were created through him and for him.

“He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.” (Colossians 1:15-18)

Only the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ

“Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people.” (Romans 5:18)

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” (Ephesians 1:8-10)

“As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-10)

In Light of the Gospel

“For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.”
(Psalm 36:9)

“The True Light,
Who gives Light to everyone,
was coming into the world.”
(John 1:9)

A Prayer for Facial Recognition

 

And So Is He Our Salvation

Humankind, Once
Headed Up in Adam,
Is Now Headed Up in Christ.

“Consequently, just as one trespass [Adam’s] resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act [Christ’s] resulted in justification and life for all people.” (Romans 5:18)

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

What We Encounter in the Mystery of Baptism

“For God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4)

“What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Romans 6:1-5)

The Reality in Whom We Have Our Being