Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God: "After viewing 'The Nativity Story', analyzing your chosen Christmas carol, and reading Philippians 2:1-7, reflect on the meaning of Christma..."

Christmas is the revelation of God to the world. It commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the son of God, to a young couple from Galilee.

Jesus is widely recognized to be the messiah, our savior. Even among the non-believers, he is acknowledged as a good man of many good deeds. A man of great power, yet a greatly humbled man.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

This describes the moment upon which the shepherds first see the baby Jesus. Angels were said to have surrounded the baby, and a light bathed him. It describes the majesty of such a baby, the son of God, here on Earth with us.


Mary had to have faith in the Lord for this to work, as she became the subject of many accusations. Joseph also had to put his faith in God, both to protect and believe Mary. The shepherds and astrologists just had to put their faith in a higher power, and hope it actually meant something.


Coming to Earth as a child shows us that God isn't as out of reach as perhaps we may have thought before. He walks among us, humbly as one of us. Instead of seizing, he seeks to simply help. Perhaps he simply wanted to understand us on our own terms, or to put a friendly face on his healing work.


We also associate babies and birth as beautiful, innocent things. Just maybe, God played on that image to win us over.