Day 2

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14 (NIV)

In simple terms, the incarnation refers to how God, who is spirit, took on a human body and became a person in the form of Jesus Christ. It means that God became one of us. If it makes your head spin to think about it you’re in good company. The idea that the divine became fully present in human form, experiencing life as we do, with all its joys and challenges has been bending minds for centuries. The word "incarnation" comes from the Latin words "in" (in) and "caro" (flesh). 

When we understand the incarnation in light of the creation story it tells us something deep about ourselves. Genesis reminds us that every individual bears the divine imprint, a reflection of God's image. The incarnation amplifies this truth, declaring that the Creator embraced humanity in its entirety, becoming flesh to intimately identify with all of us. 

As we contemplate the Word made flesh, we confront the sin of racism—a distortion that tarnishes the divine image in others. Jesus, born in a humble stable, shattered the walls that divide. 

Although racism is alive and well in our country and world today, it inherently denies the biggest message of the incarnation: God loved all of us enough to dwell among us. 

Prayer:

Gracious God, who wove humanity in many colors and races, we seek your guidance to see beyond the surface and recognize the sacred image in each person. Empower us to dismantle the structures of racism. May our hearts mirror the radical love of Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.