The Vulnerable Word

"Lord Christ, we adore You as the infant Christ.  Teach us how to tend to You in Your self-imposed vulnerability with us..."   The prayer came this morning as I read it from a devotional guide entitled, "Common Prayer."  As I moved from the prayer, my mind went to John 1:14 which reads, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  While it may not always be our first thought, humanity is vulnerable.  Oh, we think of ourselves when we are young as invincible.  As those middle age years start attacking us, we respond with exercise programs which we tell ourselves will keep away all those physical limitations everyone says are inevitable.  And even, as we grow past being old, death is thought of as something that happens to someone else.

 

The truth is that we are all vulnerable.  Very vulnerable.  As Jesus was vulnerable.  Where  in our understanding of human existence is there a clearer picture of vulnerability than birth.  Jesus was born helpless to fend for Himself.  Without loving and nurturing parents, His life would never have been counted in years.  He was born completely dependent on another.  He came into this world naked and empty handed and helpless.  Just like every one of us.  While it might be said that He was dependent on a parent's love, it might more appropriately be said that He was dependent on mercy.

 

And if we are vulnerable at birth, how much more vulnerable will we be in our death.  At that point we will once again experience a living that is beyond our control.  In those final days or moments, we will once again experience a vulnerability that makes us dependent and helpless even as was Jesus on the cross.  And while vulnerability may seem like such a hard and difficult part of life, as it is experienced those who love us are given the opportunity to give gifts of care and nurture and love and compassion which have the potential to forever change their lives.  Such is the gift we bring to our own vulnerability.