4th Sunday of Advent

Dearly Beloved,

First, as we draw closer to Christmas, I wish you a blessed Christmas Season and joyful new calendar year.  

Recently, I received some feedback in regards to the Doctrine of Incarnation.  Certainly, over the years especially in the Early Church, there has been some error in teaching about the identity of Christ.  Some of the ancient heresies resurface today in what I would call "heresy hybrids".

These kinds of hybrids finds a way to lessen one area of Christ's identity, either his true divinity or his true humanity.  Because if Christ is not truly divine, he cannot be the savior, and if Christ was not made flesh, then he cannot redeem what he did not assume.

When in need, the ancient Nicene Creed helps to bring clarity.  Also, we can look to Blessed Mother for guidance and help.  The lowly handmaid of The Lord humbly receive the good news and cooperated with grace.  Thereby allowing "the word made flesh and dwelt among us" (Angelus Prayer).

Christmas affords the opportunity to reaffirm the Doctrine of Incarnation.  According to St Matthew, the child born in Bethlehem is not just someone that will bring healing and peace and make a difference in people's lives.  Certainly, this child will do all of that.  But this child is unique and is consubstantial to God, the Father, eternally pre-existing with God the Father.  The famous slogan of Alexander from Alexandria against Arianism and reaffirms the divinity of Christ is "Always Father, Always Son."  

So that we can keep solemn the Nativity, think about how these "heresy hybrids" have resurface and have taken attention away from the great mystery of " God with us" in Christ.  Keeping a generic ethos will only decrease the significance of the Christmas season.

The longing for the Christ to come was prophesied in the Book of Genesis, and the ancient Chosen people have been waited patiently as to how God will remain faithful to the promised Covenant.

The promise of the Covenant was fulfilled according to St Matthew.  "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.  He shall be called Emmanuel which means God is with us."  

"O Come let us adore him, Christ our Lord!"