“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means,
“God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
When we consider humanity, we might quickly think of all the atrocities and sins we have committed — our
wars, genocide and violence; our degradation and devaluation of our natural environment; our disrespect and
dishonoring of those who are different. But God loves humanity. God loved us enough to become one of us.
God becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ reveals our Creator’s extraordinary love for us. As Cynthia
Rigby writes in her book Holding Faith, God’s dramatic entrance into our lives as Jesus Christ reveals the
Divine’s desire to be with us and for us. It’s a relationship of Lover and Beloved.
Through Jesus Christ, our human potential is also revealed. Yes, we sin and fall far short of God’s
expectations. But we can also be courageous and caring. We can choose love in the face of hate, good over
evil, right instead of wrong. Pause today to recall the best examples of humanity. Set these Christ-like models
before you as evidence of your potential and marks of God’s love.
Examine: Recall a moment in your life when you acted faithfully, a moment you look back on and feel good about
because you embodied your best, most Christ-like self. Breathe. Notice thoughts and feelings that arise.
Imagine: Call to mind people who you admire as Christ-like. Hold these people in your mind. Consider their qualities.
Consider how they came to be who they are. Give God thanks for these Christ-like models.
Pray: Free me for love, O God, so I can live with heart.
