Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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 483.
There are two major liturgical observances marking the Incarnation: Christmas (25 December) and Annunciation (25 March). These two (2) celebrations, nine (9) months apart mark the birth of the Lord and His being conceived in Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit respectively (cf. Matthew 1:16, 25; 2:1; Luke 1:26-38; 2:7-11). “Incarnation” means “in(to) the flesh”, God became like us in all things but sin (cf. Hebrews 4:15) to save us from our sins, born of a woman, born under the Law to give us the grace we need to keep the Law (cf. Galatians 4:4-5).
Those who read Sacred Scripture or speak about the Lord Jesus as if He was only a man among men while denying His Lordship forget the mystery of His Person. The mystery of the Incarnation presupposes the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit became flesh and dwelt among us (cf. John 1:14), only the eternal Word (cf. John 1:1-3). As the mystery of the Incarnation presupposes the mystery of the Holy Trinity, so too do the mystery of the Eucharist and the mystery of the Church (sacramentaly and mystically the Body of Christ) presuppose the mystery of the Incarnation. It is only because of the humanity He received from the Virgin Mary that Christ can feed us with His very flesh and blood (cf. John 6:55) in the Eucharist. By our worthy reception of Holy Communion we are made living stones in His body Mother Church.
The duality of natures (human and divine) in Christ Jesus, united in the eternal and unique person of the Word, is further echoed in Sacred Scripture which is the inspired Word of God in human language and in the Church which is human in her membership on Earth and in the Saints in Heaven as well as in Her Founder but, which is likewise divine in her Founder and in her doctrine and goal (Heaven) and in the grace which is imparted especially in the Sacraments.
Christ Jesus, true God and true man, is unique and mysterious. And the same is true of each one of us. There will never be another you. There will never be another me. We are all made in the Divine Image, each one of us, born and unborn (cf. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 51:5; 139:13). Life is not a ‘dress rehearsal.’ May we all cooperate with God’s grace given us to fulfill His mysterious plan for us in the here and now that our here-after will be blessed and in God’s mercy He will be all in all (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:28).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr