Verbum Caro Factum Est

Tonight, these words pierced my soul as I attended a service of lessons and carols here in Charlottesville. These words convey such weight, such meaning, such powerful imagery. Hearing them sung in Latin, a language I studied extensively in high school, added layers and layers of depth onto a concept that sometimes feels dry and overused in the Christian church. As we become familiar with words and ideas, all too often we tend to take them for granted. I needed to hear these particular words in another language to taste their fullness yet again. Verbum caro factum est. The word was made flesh. And further, the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Just let that sink in...

Embarking upon the Christmas holidays, life has been busy and good, but somehow in the mix I've felt very far from the true notion of Christmas. It has seemed like one of "those things over there that maybe i'll get to one day" for much of the Advent season. And it is something I have not meditated upon nearly enough this fall, or this year for that matter.

Christmas remains indelibly imprinted in the calendars of history as the day that the word truly took on flesh. According to Christian belief, which I share, the God of the universe sent his son to earth-a son who never previously had a fleshly form before-to eventually die for the sins of the world and in so doing enable the rebirth of mankind. Whether you adhere to such a doctrine or not, you must admit that the concept is incredible-something that never previously had a human form taking on mortal flesh and blood all for the sake of giving oneself up for a brood of misfit beggars.

To take this train of thought a bit further, ruminate on the words of Mark Jarman from a poetry book I discovered a few years back entitled "Epistles":

Verbum caro factum est. The word is made flesh. That is bliss. But for those to whom the body is pain, to themselves and others, bliss comes when flesh is made into words. Say, “Now you are released.” Say, “Now you are pure spirit.” Say, “Now all the pleasure you have been denied is turned into poetry.” Say, “God has committed you to memory.