As we celebrate Epiphany, it is good to remind ourselves at the astonishing claim the Christianity makes: the humanity of God. As Anglican priest, Tish Harrison Warren, has written: "It’s weird. We celebrate that God — the full and actual God — had a body, grew leg hair, cried salty tears, and breathed ordinary air. Not only that but that the full and actual God was a baby, an embryo, lacking all autonomy, utterly dependent and vulnerable."

So, in addition to taking down the Christmas decorations, we might pause and consider the revolution in Christianity's claim. Nearly all ancient societies had humans who possessed Godlike powers. They stood above ordinary humans. But our Baby Jesus, Warren reminds us, was "not only a human and not only a baby, but one in poverty, with no great strength or power, a child born to a lower-class family, an ethnic minority, who lived under an oppressive and violent imperial power. He was marginalized and despised and died the shameful death of a criminal."

Thus, Christianity historically changed our understanding of humanity. Every human has dignity, not just the powerful or the rich.

The church is tempted, we all are tempted, by comfort and status. But as we enter a new year, it is well to embrace anew our radical roots.

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Join us for Friday morning for online Centering Prayer at 8 am Pacific. Email me if you don't have the link: charlestaylorkerchner@gmail.com.