Merry Christmas (part II - XII)

Did you know that ”flesh” and ”meat” is the same word in some languages? The German word Fleisch for instance. When I read, ”the word became flesh” I could also read ”the word became meat” – an interesting thought as we think about the meaning of “taste and see, this is my body…” isn’t it?!

Anyway, this wordplay made me think about Christmas. With so many gorged bellies in mind, we can clearly see that Christmas has a lot to do with meat, doesn’t it?! At the same time, Christmas is very closely linked with flesh. After all, Christmas is the incarnation, Fleischwerdung in German or becoming of meat, pardon, flesh. But that sounds a little like butcher’s language, so let’s stick with incarnation. The incarnation is the ultimate prerequisite to the salvation of the entire creation – as it were all flesh doomed to rot.  No incarnation - no crucifixion; no crucifixion - no resurrection; no resurrection - no New Creation; no New Creation - no hope, no hope - no gospel. It’s more than obvious: Christmas is important.

However, Incarnation is not only that popular December festival of lights and presents. Fleischwerdung is just as hip from January to November. Namely, the continuation of Christmas is the incarnation of the gospel in daily life. Nowadays we call it an incarnational life and this makes a lot of sense, for Jesus not only became a man of flesh and blood, but most of all became known for his way of life. His words and actions was the ultimate human embodiment of God’s goodness. For this purpose he was sent – and for this very purpose he sends us: As the father sent me I send you. I’ve modeled an example; now it’s your turn to embody the goodness of God to the rest of the world.

Therefore we have something to contemplate this early January in the year of our Lord 2015, as Christmas candles go out again and flashy light chains are switched off: How do we mean to let the resurrection hope become flesh? Who are the “tax collectors” and “sinners” in our neighborhood, the office, the gym? What kind of hope and renewal do they need? As you and I meet them, how do we significantly embody God’s goodness to them? If you can answer these questions specifically with names, places and actions you truly know what “incarnation” means.

In this sense I wish you all a brilliant continuation of Christmas for the coming eleven months!