Fourth Week of Advent: Born for us – the Word made flesh

 At the very heart of the spirituality of St. Alphonsus is love: God’s love for us and our love for God in response. St. Alphonsus was overwhelmed by God’s love for him and for all of us, and for Alphonsus, this was especially manifest in Jesus. Jesus is the unshakeable sign and proof that God loves us.

The spirituality of St. Alphonsus has traditionally been summarized in the four symbols of the crib, the cross, the altar, and Mary. This Advent season, we’ll take the time to reflect on the crib. Each week’s reflection will focus on a different theme related to the birth of Jesus — in time and in our hearts this Christmas.

By Elizabeth Góral-Makowski

And the Word Was Made Flesh

An infant cry breaks through the darkness of night
Reminds creation of its dependence on God
  For breath, for life
And the Word was made flesh

Soft skin, cuddled close
Eyes open in wonder taking it in
  For better, for worse
And the Word was made flesh

Chubby hands reach out to grasp
Baby smiles coo God’s unconditional Love
   For us, for all
And the Word was made flesh

An anguished cry keens in the night
 A police siren whizzes by
  An angry shove – Eyes see blood
And the world crumples down

A suffering world not knowing what to grab
Not listening to its Creator’s heartbeat
  Drowning out Love with shouts and noise
And yet the Word continues on

A pained cry shatters the still night
Gentle hands lovingly connect      
   For this is holy, for this is us
And the Word is made flesh

(c) 2006 Elizabeth Góral-Makowski
Used with permission

Elizabeth Góral-Makowski is director of development for the Redemptorist Office for Mission Advancement.