Merry Christmas from IWS

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
—John 1:14 NIV

“And now, with what words shall we praise the love of God? What thanks shall we give? He so loved us that for our sakes He, through whom time was made, was made in time; and He, older by eternity than the world itself, was younger in age than many of His servants in the world; He, who made man, was made man; He was given existence by a mother whom He brought into existence; He was carried in hands which He formed; He nursed at breasts which He filled; He cried like a babe in the manger in speechless infancy—this Word without which human eloquence is speechless!”
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Christmas Sermon No. 6

Manger stained glass

In Part 3, Article 1 of the Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas proposed that “the very nature of God is goodness … [and] it belongs to the essence of the highest good to communicate itself in the highest manner to the creature.” He goes on to state that God joining himself to creation, becoming one with creation, is a most fitting result of his infinite, effervescent, overflowing goodness, as the fullness of the Triune God is manifested in the incarnation. The incarnation is the most vivid and certain evidence of God’s goodness to all creation.

nativity-artworkHe who is the very essence of being itself, becomes what he created, taking on the confinement of frail flesh so that we who are born of flesh may share in the fullness of his divinity. He who is, became. The Bread of Life was born in the House of Bread (Bethlehem). He who is true food for the world was laid in a feed trough so we may receive divine nourishment. He who is eternal entered time so we may gain eternity. He whose richness is unfathomable became impoverished so we may be beneficiaries of the richness of glory. He who is perfect freedom became confined by swaddling cloths so we may become “unswaddled” from our frail humanity, our degradation, failure and grief. In that great act he shows us the true freedom of giving ourselves away in love for others, to be bound for the sake of the other.

At Christmas we celebrate this “great exchange.” Since through the incarnation God has fully participated in our human nature, we therefore have the calling and privilege of participating in his divine nature, being truly “united with God.” In that process of divinization, or becoming Christ-like, we can immerse ourselves in, then emulate to others, God’s effervescent, overflowing goodness, always reaching out in love to God and through God to others.

May you and yours have a most blessed Christmas celebration!

The Lord be with you,
James R. Hart, President

About the author

Dr. James R. Hart served as President of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies from 2007-2024. Dr. Hart was a member of the first IWS doctoral class, the Alpha class, and served as Dean of Students during his matriculation. After graduating from IWS, Dr. Webber appointed him as the Dean of Administration, and then Provost in 2006. In June of 2007, he was inaugurated as the second president of IWS. Dr. Hart holds a B.M. in Sacred Music from Oral Roberts University, an M.M. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Tulsa, and a D.W.S. from the Institute for Worship Studies. He was critical to the formation of IWS in Florida and has held administrative responsibilities since its inception in 1999. He is a professional trumpeter, choral director, and worship leader, and a published composer/arranger, songwriter, and author. He has been involved in worship leadership in various contexts around the globe for over 40 years and has taught in the areas of worship, theology, and music in various conferences, colleges, and seminaries. Dr. Hart and his wife, Carol, have three daughters and three grandchildren.

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