Last Advent, I pondered what the theologians call a mysterium tremendum (tremendous mystery), diving into the theology of God and the doctrine of creation to ponder the “rugged billion miles” Jesus traveled to be born for me.
In my reading, I stumbled across a quote from C.S. Lewis. He mentions the vulgarness of Creator God taking on human flesh and says, almost in passing, that if we can “stomach” the incarnation . . . .[1] Stomach the incarnation? I had never once considered that the incarnation might be something I’d have to stomach, something strongly repulsive and offensive. But it must have been to the angels. It’s only because we are human and can’t think of anything more precious than a baby that the vulgarity of God being born a baby is missed. Think of the wonder of who God is and then add to your concept the fact that he was born a baby. No wonder the angels pondered in amazement. It is a tremendous mystery.
God has given us the greatest Christmas gift. He comes into our midst here and now. I want to more fully grasp the distance and the wonder of his Bethlehem gift and see it in truth—the straw and the light.
The condescension of the Son of God is a lavish gift. During Advent, I seek to expand my comprehension and deepen my feelings of appreciation for Christ’s incarnation and his Second Coming. I want to treasure his birth and Return according to their actual value, not the value our culture grants them. I want to become “a man with a chest,”[2] so I’ll live accordingly. I’m sure you do, too.
Take time to reflect on the mystery and let music, poetry, art, nature, joy, beauty, and truth lead you into heartfelt worship. May we become speechless as we contemplate the mystery and be transfixed in adoration as the angels were that we should be given such a Gift. The love that descends to Bethlehem is a burning fire, conquers darkness with force, and melts our hearts. Come to the manger with me. See our Creator God. Marvel at the mystery.
[1] C.S. Lewis in the preface to “Letters to Young Churches,” J.B. Phillips New Testament, 1958. “The same divine humility that sent the Son of God into the world as a baby also delivered his message in a “vulgar” and “prosaic” language: “If you can stomach the one, you can stomach the other.”
[2] C.S. Lewis remarks that it’s our chest (loving knowledge and valuing what is objectively good and right and just) that leads us to live well. “We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.”
The content of this post is from All Creation Sings by Luann Budd.