Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings prompt me to consider the implications for us of Christ Jesus becoming fully human in his incarnation while retaining his full divinity. As we enter into Ordinary Time, let’s keep fresh in our hearts and minds the wonder of Christ coming into our midst as Emmanuel. This is a great day to be grateful for the gift of salvation and to thank our Lord for paying the price for our sins and for setting us free. This is a great day to remember that Christ’s coming in human form sets us free to be our most free, fully human selves, and that by our baptism, we become partakers also in Christ’s divinity.
In our first reading, the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “he (Jesus Christ) had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.” Prior to Christ’s coming in the flesh, the Jewish sacrificial system was in place whereby priests offered animal sacrifices on behalf of the people for their sins. These rituals had to be repeated endlessly because they could not take away sins once and for all. Isn’t it incredible that God sent the Son to become our Great High Priest – Jesus became not only Priest but the ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God, to fully free us from the bondage of sin. A great old hymn, “How Deep the Father’s Love,” says it well in its second verse:
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
In today’s Gospel, we find Jesus demonstrating his divinity by healing Simon’s (Peter) mother-in-law, healing countless others, and driving out demons. We, too, know the power of Christ’s divinity through the in-dwelling Holy Spirit. The more we embrace our freedom as Christ followers, the more we grasp the truth deep within us that we are forgiven and free, the more we know – really know our belovedness, the more we can walk in freedom. Fully alive and present to God, we become aware moment-by-moment of the Holy Spirit moving within and around us and the divine power that is available to us. We, too, as partakers in the divine nature, can be available to God for divine purposes. God might work through us to facilitate another’s healing. God might work through us as a light to dispel darkness and the demonic. Certainly, God will work through us to be Christ’s hands and feet and voice of love in whatever situations we find ourselves. I believe it was St Irenaeus who said, “The glory of God is the human being fully alive.” Today, let us live fully alive! We do so because Christ came to earth and shared our flesh; we do so because through the gift of baptism we are partakers of the divine nature.
You might enjoy continuing your prayer with this powerful worship song by Lauren Daigle, “How Can it Be.” You can find it here. As you sing this prayer, allow your heart to truly marvel at the gift of your salvation through the finished work of Jesus Christ our Lord, Messiah, and High Priest. God bless you to walk in your freedom this day. Amen!
- Elizabeth Wourms