The Incarnation of the Son of God is the most singular and unique event in human history. In fact, the birth of Jesus divides history into two parts: the period before his coming and the period that followed his coming. Every Sunday we profess our belief in this fundamental aspect of our Catholic Faith when we proclaim: “For us men and our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man” (Nicene Creed).
The Incarnation distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God” (1 John 4: 2). It is because of the Incarnation, that Jesus associates himself with every human being. “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me” (Matthew 25: 40).
This Sunday’s liturgy speaks to us about the most essential virtue of Christianity. “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13: 8). Charity is the one virtue that defines us as true Christians.
As we consider the virtue of Christianity, we immediately remember St. Paul’s definition of charity in another part of the Scriptures: “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). It is here, in this celebrated text that we find the components of the virtue of charity... (Continued here)
No comments:
Post a Comment