Jesus is the eternal God. Before His Incarnation, He was Spirit (see Jn 4:24) and therefore invisible. To experience through our senses the full glory of the all-holy God would certainly have been more than we could bear (see Ex 33:20). Therefore, we would more likely see only "the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord" (Ez 1:28). This caused Ezekiel to fall on his face (Ez 2:1). Such an experience of God's presence — even several times removed — would probably knock us out or even kill us. For example, at the end of the world, Jesus will annihilate the mighty Antichrist "by manifesting His own presence" (2 Thes 2:8). It is impossible for us to understand and express even remotely how awesome is Jesus, our God.

This makes it all the more shocking that God became man (see Jn 1:14). To see God with a human body is more shocking than seeing your spouse as a termite, cockroach, or some other bug. Even beholding Jesus' glorified, risen body is shocking. It should be impossible for us to ever get used to seeing God as a human being.

Why the Incarnation? The mystery of love! Why the Incarnation? Extreme humility! Respond to the mystery of the Incarnation by living a radically new life of total love for Jesus, the God-Man.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2014

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