(23 Jan 2007) Hb 10. 1-10; Ps 40; Mk 3. 31-35
Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J.
Daily Prelude
The Christian faith from the beginning emphasized the Incarnation: the Spirit incarnated the Second Person of the Trinity in the womb of Mary, who gave human nature to Jesus. Together with the Paschal mystery of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, the Incarnation is the other epicenter of our faith.
St. Francis of Assisi emphasized, and his spirituality continues to emphasize, the centrality of the Incarnation in its approaches to life and ministry. St. Ignatius of Loyola greatly admired St. Francis, the germ for Ignatian spirituality’s similar, incarnational emphasis. Human beings and their physical nature are every bit their concern as are peoples’ spiritual dimensions.
At times any of us can lose sight of that conviction. When we do, we compartmentalize ourselves and others. God in Christ by their Spirit never compartmentalizes people. The sanctity of our bodies our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus, affirmed when he took to himself a body like our own: a body you prepared for me, says Hebrews, which is more pleasing to God than any other oblation.
Not only did Jesus come to fulfill bodily God’s desire for humanity, he said that all who do so are his brother and sister and mother. Doing our parts to fulfill God’s desire for humanity and for our wold is as much a physical exercise as it is a spiritual exercise. The Incarnation is not only central to our faith; it transforms praying daily into a prelude to one’s mission to glorify God more.
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