Something New

Gospel: John 1: 1-18

In various religions many deities have taken on human form, as well as other forms of animals and such.  But these were mere costumes taken on by the various deities in order to transact business here on earth.  The taking on of the costume was for a transactional interaction with human beings at best, and in many cases manipulative interactions for the benefit of the deity.  

But what takes place in the incarnation of Jesus is that God becomes human not in the way of a costume but really human.  God comes to understand what it is to be human. God identifies with the human condition and comes down to our level of existence and understanding.  So, the offering of mercy to human beings is made with the full understanding of who we are and not merely as an offering of a superior to an inferior.  God understands the need for mercy on a human level.

So today mercy becomes incarnate in the person of Jesus, and this mercy is extended to all of humanity.  In turn, we are asked to extend mercy and love to others, to come to understand the condition and situation of others just as God has done for us in taking on humanity in the person of Jesus.  The greatest gift we can give to another is to identify with them and extend mercy and love.