I nearly wept
I nearly wept:
my daughter could not understand
why her body ached, rebelled,
suffered from the stain of sin
in sickness form
– sin she’s yet to will –
and my sorrow ran deeper than song:
she has entered now into
the pangs
that make us hunger for
eternity
resurrection
re-Incarnation
I tasted then
a hint
– one barest, infinitesimal hint –
the pain of Bethlehem
I nearly wept:
the God-son had always known
why his body would ache, rebel
suffer from the stain of sin
in sickness form
– sin he never willed –
and my trembling ran deeper than song:
he entered then into
our pangs
and left behind
eternity
immortality
un-Incarnation
God
and humanity
in hypostatic union
neither
twain and separate
nor
one subservient to other
but
perfect conjoination:
divinized flesh and enfleshed deity
mystery and paradox
impossibility
Why this myth come true?
For every infant child weeping wordless confusion at first illness
For every mourning father, mother, brother, sister, friend of dead child
For every shattered marriage foundered on the rocks of selfish sin
For every woman raped
For every man abused from birth
For every sick tragedy this world spews forth
For sin
For death
God with us
among us
like us
for us
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18 ESV