The Incarnate Christ. Word on the Week 16th December 2017.
It all seems so contemporary. The unexpected pregnancy; the homelessness;
the government census prior to imposing taxes; the poor transport system!
But there was love at the heart of it. Mary’s love for her child. Joseph’s love for his betrothed and God’s particular love for his chosen ones.
Todays’ attitudes are so different. Joseph would have departed from the scene. Mary would have gone for an abortion. This would have been granted on mental grounds (whoever heard of a conception by the Holy Spirit!). Mary would have signed on, not to pay taxes but to draw down the benefits!
It’s been a bad week for unborn babies! The results of the Citizens’ Assembly and the Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment have strongly influenced a section of public opinion towards removing the Amendment. The amendment was placed in the Constitution some 34 years ago with the aim of granting equal rights to life to the mother and her unborn baby. Since it was signed into law it has saved countless lives. There are many walking the streets of Ireland that owe their existence to the amendment!
The biased performances of these two groups towards removing the Amendment has made it difficult for those wishing to retain it to have a voice. There does not appear to be any regard for the sanctity of human life. There is plenty of discussion as to when human life begins in the womb but little regard for the unborn of any age.
I am reminded of G. A. Studdert-Kennedy’s poem reflecting the difficulty of bringing Jesus into the debate in his day. Here are two of the three verses.
When Jesus came to Birmingham, they simply passed Him by.
They would not hurt a hair of Him, they only let Him die;
For men had grown more tender, and they would not give Him pain,
They only just passed down the street, and left Him in the rain.
Still Jesus cried, ‘Forgive them, for they know not what they do, ‘
And still it rained the winter rain that drenched Him through and through;
The crowds went home and left the streets without a soul to see,
And Jesus crouched against a wall, and cried for Calvary
But the Christ incarnate was not aborted. He lived to portray the image of the invisible God (Colossians Chapter 1 verse 15). And he lives today to ensure that none of the redeemed are lost (St John Chapter 10 Verses 28/9). Will the aborted babies be there? The old timers certainly believed it. That is how they understood the “Heavenly multitude no man could number” (Revelation Chapter 7 verse 9). That will be a glorious day!