I read something the other day that I haven’t been able to shake. See how it strikes you.
“The image of God is universally human.”
This quote is courtesy of Nonna Verna Harrison in her book God’s Many-Splendored Image. The entire book is doubling down on the fact that we are good, created in God’s good image. (The “total depravity” view of humanity is merely one of the many views on this topic.)
Like most Truth, this statement contains a plenitude of meaning. There are two levels of this truth which come to the forefront for me. The first is that God doubled-down on humanity’s goodness when God chose to become Emmanuel (God with Us) in the person of Jesus the Christ.
“So God created humankind in God’s image…God saw everything that They had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:27,31)
“‘She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:21-23)
This is fantastic news! I hope you find it restorative to know that you do not need to think of yourself as someone who needs to get scrubbed up before you can be loved, before you can be considered good. You are good. God loves you just as you are. And that Love is transformative. As we allow ourselves to be loved and love in return, we are formed into Christlikeness which seems to me like letting go of the false self and stepping into our true identity as the Imago Dei. Doesn’t this sound like good news?
The second meaning resonating within me is that whenever we look into each other’s eyes, we are looking into the eyes of God.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me… Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me…” (Matthew 25:35-40)
How does this change your outlook on those around you? Your neighbors? Your coworkers? Your family, even the difficult ones? How does this change how you see yourself in the mirror? How does this change how you view the poor and homeless?
When we embrace this view of the world, we see Christ in the “least of these.” And I know this changes how we will interact with others. In the same way, we are offering Christ to others with our own presence. This kind of Christo-centric intention can soften and open up all of our interactions. It is Christ-in-us (Christ expressed in the way that only we can express it) extending loving presence to Christ-in-others. What a simple and immense way to walk through life!
I’d like to propose that we each take one of these truths and prayerfully meditate upon it. What invitation does God have for you? Will you be so trusting as to accept it?