Sacred Questions At Christmasنموونە

WORD BECAME FLESH

A Prayer to Open

Here I am, Lord,

in my tired, aging, hurting, wondrous body.

Open my heart to you now.

You are my High Priest who knows.

Read Scripture Passage

Reflect

The eternal Son of God, in communion with the Father and the Spirit forever, lowered himself, humbled himself, and embodied himself in order to save us. Oh if we could remember this truth when we relate to, call on, live in, and share Jesus. If we could somehow prevent ourselves from thinking of him as a disembodied spirit who is far from us and unable to know all the pain and joy we experience in our bodies. How might our images of our own bodies change? How might we better care for ourselves? How might we grow in respect for the bodies of others, seeing them as sacred and specially made by God instead of things to be used or abused, as is so often the case? May we always remember that God came in the flesh, in a body, and to this very moment Jesus has a body.

• Having spent the past fifteen days focusing on the truth of God’s coming in the flesh to be with us, what happens in you when you read this rich, well-known announcement about Jesus Christ?
• How have these fifteen days influenced your view and understanding of your own body?
• Reflect on the reality that the Word—the eternal Son of God—became flesh and made his dwelling among us. What does this truth reveal to you about God’s love? What does it reveal about Jesus’ ability to identify with you?

Respond

Jesus Christ—

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace;

the one through whom and for whom all things were made; and

the one in whom I live and move and have my being—

became flesh and made your dwelling among us.