Lent 13

For my CPE assignment due tomorrow, I have been asked to write about the "three stackpoles of my theological house." We weren't given any instruction further than that, but I take it to mean I should identify the three most important theological points in my spirituality/faith/theology. Tonight, I will share one of my stackpoles. That is, the Incarnation.

One of the most beautiful images in all of scripture is of the man Simeon in the Temple with the infant Jesus. "Simeon took him to in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.' The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, 'This child is destined to cause the falling and the rising to many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.'" (Luke 2:28-35) Simeon speaks powerful words claiming the sovereignty and power of Jesus as God, the one who will save. But the thing that makes this image so beautiful is that while speaking these powerful claims, these strong word, he is holding the infant Christ in his arms. I imagine him holding him close to his chest, drawing him close to his lips as he tenderly speaks his celebration and blessing over the boy Christ.

Why is the incarnation so important to me? Perhaps because of the time and energy I've spent reaching out, trying to find the God I can relate to. I've mentioned before that the image of God I grew up with never really worked for me. It was hard to imagine old-white-man-in-the-sky really caring about me, loving me deeply and unconditionally. But as I grew up and learned about Jesus, and as I matured came to really know the love of Christ, that Christ is God in flesh has become so much more important to me. Many Christians would name the crucifixion as the most important thing Christ did, but it has always seemed a greater sacrifice to me for God to humble God's self so low. God loves us so much that God actually became one of us, taking on all of the messiness and pain and suffering that entails. Knowing God incarnate, knowing a God I can look to as a human example, knowing a God I can touch, and see, and feel, and imagine, has made all the difference in my faith.

So, the incarnation is a stackpole of my theological house, perhaps the most important one. If I don't know the God I can relate to, then there's not much else that matters.