God has shown us his love through creation, especially creating man and women in his own image and likeness. And when they sinned, God manifested his love by promising a Savior. We can’t begin to wrap our minds around the actualization of this promise in time. After centuries of preparing a Chosen People to receive this promised Savior, God himself manifested his love for us by becoming man while remaining God. The Word of God, the Son of God, infinite and eternal became a finite being in time and his name is Jesus. “And the Word became flesh, and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, glory like that of an only-begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). This consistent, mysterious, and unfathomable love of God for us is made visible and tangible in the person of Jesus the Christ.

 What should our response be? Initially with Peter we say, “Depart from me, for I am sinful.” But ultimately we exclaim in faith with Thomas, “My Lord and my God”. Between those two responses is our journey of growing in relationship with God through his presence in the person of Jesus. It is a growth in love and deeper surrender to his will.