How I love the Incarnation

Recently, as many of you may know, I (along with some cousins of mine) have been reading On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius. It has been so refreshing. When I begin thinking about all that God did on our behalf so that we might no longer be under the dominion of death, but have life, I stand amazed. We don't deserve it at all. We spat in His face and yet He was laying down His life for us. The Word made flesh was paying the price for our sins (John 1:1).

I like it the way Athanasius puts it: "For by the sacrifice of His own body He did two things: He put an end to the law of death which barred our way; and He made a new beginning of life for us, by giving us the hope of resurrection. By man death has gained its power over men; by the Word made Man death has been destroyed and life raised up anew." Chapter II, pg.37

God paid the penalty. He let us live. And He conquered death with the cross. God is immortal and cannot die and this is why He put Himself into a human body which was capable of death. The Word of the Father, the Son of God, died so that we might live for all eternity.

It blows me away. I continually ask myself, "Why? Why God? Why do this for me?" My only answer is that He did it out of His love for us. May we forever praise Him. Thank God for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.