Simply Profound

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today ring out in celebration of Christmas. The prophet Isaiah observes that God will return to intimate relationship with the people of Israel. The return of the people to the recognition that God reigns in their lives will be great comfort and peace for them. This salvation of the people will be for all nations to witness and be part of. The psalmist proclaims the steadfast love and faithfulness of God as vindication that God remains with His people and His right hand and holy arm have brought victory for God which is witnessed by all peoples of the earth. In this context of God being in intimate relationship with humanity comes the declaration by the author of the Book of Hebrews that God deepens this contact by entering into human history as God limited by human flesh and "an exact imprint of God's very being", a Son. The movement of the Divine into the bounds of time and space from the "is" of the infinite life Giver is to invite those who receive Him into a relationship as children of God. The Word became flesh and lived among us is the description given in the Gospel of John for the event to which children and those whose lives are less based on self appear to receive with open joy and peace. Those still seeking the techniques to bring the action of God into human frameworks of understanding are simultaneously profoundly awed at the "scandal" of God in human form and delightfully overwhelmed with joy that God is with us.