How We Make Church an Idol
Give Flesh to Faith this Christmas
Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash
I read a reflection by Fr. Ron Rolheiser the other day about giving flesh to faith this Christmas. I loved that phrase: Give flesh to faith. What a beautiful thing to ponder on Christmas.
When we think about Jesus being born this Christmas, that is precisely what God did. He gave flesh to Himself. He gave flesh to faith. That is what we celebrate! What a gift that God gave us in human form to be with us, walk with us, guide us, and show us in a human way who God was in Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, and perhaps beyond, ponder the human Jesus Christ in the Gospels. Ponder who He was in the flesh. What He stood for. What He said. How He acted. What He lived for. His life in the flesh is there for us to learn from because now Christ lives on within us as the body of Christ.
Faith is “fleshy.” That’s what Jesus shows us. It’s human, it’s messy, it’s a struggle, it’s a joy, it’s a cross, it’s in need of healing, and it needs redeeming.
How are we giving flesh to faith? How are we making Christ evident in our human flesh day in and day out? How are we contributing to Christ living, breathing, and working in the world around us?
Make Christmas more than just a holiday this year. Give flesh to it each and every day.
About the Author
Katie Zalany lives in Cleveland Ohio. She is a Third Order Secular Franciscan (OFS), spiritual director, benefits/wellness leader, and certified health and life coach. She volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul Society serving the poor, is an active mentor to many individuals, and a prolific writer. Her writing interests and focus areas include spiritual development, reflections on the Gospel life, Franciscian spirituality, prayer, and integration of faith and work/daily living. She is the published author of Called to Corporate: Lessons of Growing in Faith and Holiness from the Corporate Cubicle.
