The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. John 1:14 (MSG)
True Humanity – Tear Series – Part 5
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7
“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.
It’s easy to miss the meaning of the birthplace of Christ. Our nativity scenes are glossy, the hymns we sing are melodic and beautiful, our churches are adorned with decorations and joy. But Jesus birth was anything but those things. He was born in Roman occupied Israel, where political and social tensions were high. I bet that hilltop (Golgotha) outside of Jerusalem had fresh blood dripping down it every other day. And while he was still a baby, Jesus, and his family fled to Egypt: it was simply too dangerous for them to live in their hometown.
He was a refugee.
Born frail and vulnerable, in need of care and attention, Jesus showed us that even in the least of these – the places we would never expect to find a savior – he is there. Our true humanity is not found in individualism: coming first, being the best, the richest, the greatest, winning, wealthier, stronger, better… no. Our true humanity, and therefore also our connection with holiness, is found most profoundly when we serve one another in love. Christ in me, Christ in us, Christ in all.
Christ is found not by looking up into the perfect, glossy, melodic, extravagance that we sometimes make of Christmas. He is best seen when we look into the eyes of those whom society has forgotten, pushed aside, and held down. He is best seen when we begin to give to each other; when we realize that we are “Brothers [and Sisters] of all mankind.”
Christmas is about us together bringing strength into places and people that have been weakened; listening to those who have been ignored; getting supplies to those who have been cut off from food and medicine and help; loving those whom some refuse to love. It's about extending our tables and making room for others, physically and internally.
“Our Christmas celebrations are focused on getting things we do not have: gifts for people, food for feasts, new clothes. We stuff, stuff, stuff. We fill, fill, fill. We get, get, get. When you look at Philippians 2, we read of Jesus who made himself nothing. And so Christmas should not be about stuffing ourselves with gifts and food and company, but about a God who emptied himself.” (Kuki Rokhum, Director of Training at EFICOR, India).
Instead of imagining what we might get this Christmas, let's dream about what we can give. You may be surprised by what you actually have, and how it can transform someone's life when you empty yourself of it.
It’s this kind of radical generosity that is the birthplace of redemption.
You can find out more about TEAR Australia here:
tear.org.au
usefulgifts.org
fortomorrow.org.au
Facebook.com/tearaus
Insta: @tearaustralia
Twitter: @TEARAustralia
Go to Part 6 – Spirit of Giving »
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