It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins.
For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me...."
Deep in the season of Lent, we pause to remember the Christmas cycle. The Yule feast is nine months from today and human gestation typically takes nine months.
As I understand, the human baby's body is not nearly as well formed as that of mammals of comparable size and weight, but a human baby's head is enormous and must pass through the birth canal sooner. Nine months is barely enough. Quadrupeds are born more mature; they can walk within a few minutes of birth. But the human baby only begins to crawl on hands and feet several months after birth, and later to walk on two legs.
This underdeveloped infant needs more attentive care than similar infants; but, ironically, is born of an animal with no instincts. (Nor does the baby come with a manual on the care and feeding of....) The human mother must be taught what to do! She can only follow the customs of her people as she feeds, clothes, cleans, and protects her child.
Nevertheless, we praise God that we are fearfully, wonderfully made.
It is good that the Church, interrupting the darker rites of Lent, celebrates this feast when so many wives and husbands have forgotten, or never learned, the reproductive nature of sexuality. Many regard the rite of conception as only a physical exercise, and compare their companions to athletes who are good, better, or best. Others regard marriage as a friendship thing but dismiss and sabotage its reproductive and religious dimensions. They prefer a disembodied "spirituality" without the risks, costs, disappointments, and messiness of human reproduction.
Today we celebrate the Woman betrothed to a man named Joseph who eagerly set out on a journey of motherhood. Along the way she found her own redemption and that of the whole world. Christian parents follow that mysterious, marital path to salvation in the same grateful, joyful spirit.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.