My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The third article of the Apostle’s Creed is “Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” There are nineteen (19) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 479.
The Incarnation occurred in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4). Having been promised and prepared for over the years by God through the prophets of old, Christ Jesus the Lord was born on a day and at an hour determined by God in His Providence (cf. Romans 1:2; Titus 1:2).
“Incarnation” is a technical term of Christian Faith which means ‘in(to) the flesh’ and it refers to God becoming like us in all things but sin to save us from our sins in Christ Jesus (cf. Hebrews 4:15). Due to the polytheism of Hinduism the term ‘avatar’ is not adequate for expressing the singular event of salvation history. God became man once and for all in Christ Jesus (cf. Romans 6:10; 1 Peter 3:18; Jude 1:3).
We are adopted sons and daughters of God by grace, faith and Holy Baptism (Romans 8:15; 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of the eternal Father conceived and born in time (Saint Matthew 2:1, 16; 27:2, 13,17,22, 24, 58, 62, 65).
The Catechism uses two (2) further expressions to refer to the Lord Jesus here, Voice and Word. A word is spoken with the voice and there is a relationship between the one who speaks and what is spoken. We are referred here to Saint John 1:14.
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the substantial image of the Father (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:7; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15) but one in being with Him and the Holy Spirit. Phillip is assured: ‘If you have seen Me you have seen the Father’ (Saint John 14:9).
To refer to the ‘divine nature’ is to speak of the divinity. Though there are three Divine Persons ‘in’ the Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) there are not three divine natures as this would be polytheism. We believe in One God.
That the Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, that he was a man among men and women here on Earth, that He has flesh and blood, body and soul is to stress His humanity, His human nature. The Lord Jesus Christ is like us in all things but sin (cf. Hebrews 4:15).
Faith in the Incarnation, that God became one of us is central to our Christian Faith. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. In Holy Communion we receive the whole Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Body, Blood and Soul are references to Jesus’ human nature, what he has in common with us. The Divinity is what he has in common with the Father ans the Spirit.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr