Veiled in flesh

Jesus is born in a particular place, at a particular time, to particular people. There is something about the materiality of the incarnation which I have been finding so good lately. Jesus came into the world as a person. And that makes all the difference. In taking on flesh, far as it is found, the curse is being undone. The new creation is here, even if not fully here. The new and perfect Adam is come, and he is come with fingerprints through the new Eve. Where Eve turned away is now Mary's, "be it done unto me". Where it has been said, "cursed is the ground" is now a manger and animals, sheep and stars. And I think they also know, in their own way, that heaven has broken into earth and earth will never be the same again.

. . .

Sometimes I wonder if we are occasionally like the seminary students Jayber complains of in Wendell Berry's novel Jayber Crow, who have, "learned to have a very high opinion of God, and a very low opinion of his works. Although they could tell you that this world had been made by God himself. What they didn't see was that it was beautiful".

The incarnation, the new seed, makes good creation redeemed and better creation. It seems that this is good to remember as we, members of this creation both in our creatureliness and image bearing, grow in love.