Science (non) Fiction

We used this Advent prayer in church a few weeks ago, and it struck me again with the paradox of Christ’s incarnation among us that we celebrate at this time of year.

Almighty God, who, having created all worlds and mankind, has profoundly pitied us; who has come to us that we might be saved, not of our merit, but of your unquenchable love; look on us who worship in comfort, in light and warmth, in health and prosperity, in pride and in presumption.

For, having all glory,

you became incarnate in the dishonor of a defeated line of kings;

having all riches,

you became incarnate in the poverty of the working class;

having all illumination,

you became incarnate in the darkness of night and obscurity;

having all wisdom,

you became incarnate in the confounding simplicity of a child;

having all life,

you became incarnate in the emptiness of a virgin’s womb;

having all power,

you became incarnate in the weakest form of human life - a male infant.

Help us to recognize our shame, our poverty, our darkness, our foolishness, our emptiness, our weakness, that we may know our need of you. And then … become incarnate in us. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.