And the Word Became Flesh
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”–John 1:14
Dear Friend,
Convento Menino Jesus (Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil)
Mission Society funding assisted 12 families with food, medicine, utilities, water & hygiene supplies.
“A mother, whose husband abandoned their family, struggled to raise her two children. She earned very little at her job, but it was enough to support them. Then, she was fired because of the pandemic. She didn’t know where to get money to pay her bills. She prayed, crying, and this help from the Mission Society arrived. We were able to give her food for three months, after which she got a new job.” – Sr. Marinêz
Imagine Mary’s wonder of gazing upon her newborn child knowing that he was the Son of God. Born human but without sin; in the flesh, yet divine. She had known since the angel Gabriel visited her that, through the Holy Spirit, she would conceive a child. She would name him Jesus, and he would be great and would be called “Son of the Most High.” Mary answered God’s call, and thus we are able to experience the miracle that is the incarnation of God.
John 1:14 talks about this process of incarnation. There are two reasons that the word of God became flesh. One is that we may come to know Jesus our Savior, for it is through Him that we receive our salvation. The second is for us to know Emmanuel, God with us, who brings us comfort. A critical part of the Gospel is the fact that Jesus was fully and physically human. God dwelling among us is central to our faith. Jesus, God in His human form, is the second person of the Trinity.
Jesus was not an image or illusion. He was a living, breathing person. He experienced things that we do as mortal people – temptation, pain and death among a few of them. Therefore, we have a high priest who doesn’t just sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who experienced them in bodily form. And if Christ was raised from the dead, so too the people who believe in him. This is why the Messiah came in the form of a man, rather than being an angel. He had to experience our human suffering and temptation. Christ’s time here on Earth gives us hope. He was tempted in every way, but remained sinless.
During this season of hope that comes from our Savior’s birth, we ask you to prayerfully consider a gift that will bring love and comfort to so many of our brothers and sisters in need. Some of us can’t possibly understand the challenges that some people face – homelessness, hunger, racism, personal safety, being a single parent, unemployment and lack of health care.
On behalf of all the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, Associates and their partners in ministry, thank you for your supporting God’s work in serving those who are poor in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States. May your family have a Christmas filled with peace, joy and the wonder of Christ’s birth.
Many blessings during this Holy Season,
Laura Whitford, President
Click HERE for the 2023 Christmas Appeal.
To order our 2023 Christmas Christ Child cards, click HERE.
