Hebrews 2:11-18, especially vs. 17: "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." Great is the pleasure of gathering with the family at the Christmas season. Great also was the joy, love and sheltering warmth shared among St. Joseph the Betrothed, the Virgin Theotokos, and the Holy Child, Jesus. To these, let us add the blessing we have of joining with our brethren as the Church in the glad praises of our Heavenly Father Who sent the Lord into this world to call us His "brethren" (vss. 11,12).
The wonder of the Nativity is knowing that Christ our God deigned to be made like us, even in suffering and in temptation (vs. 18). Without hesitation or shame, He is pleased to call us brethren (vs. 11). How can we plumb the depths of the Incarnation? He calls us brethren. He is made like us. We have been made brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Consider: the Word of God, Who is God (Jn. 1:1), has forever united Himself to us in every respect, leaving aside no part of our humanity, embracing all that we are and making all that we are His own. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same" (Heb. 2:14). He assumed our humanity from His Mother, the Ever-Virgin Mary, whose Synaxis or partnership in the Incarnation we celebrate today. She joined herself fully to God in His purpose, enabling Him to unite Himself to us through her flesh.
Did He set aside His Divine nature when He shared in ours? No, He did not. Rather, the Lord Jesus fully reveals the Divine nature in Himself (Jn. 14:9). Does this mean that His Divine and human natures were merged into one nature? No, they were not. The two natures remain separate but function together in harmony and unity. Likewise, He wishes us to unite ourselves to Himself. The cooperation between His Divine and human wills is a thing of beauty, revealing how to live as His brethren, how to will what He wills, to love as He loves, and do as He does.
God had a goal in uniting Himself to us: "that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 2:14). Satan has poured out untold grief on mankind, applying the universal tragedy of death to all. However, Beloved, let us consider the death of the Lord Jesus in the flesh that we may appreciate the love of God, for in destroying "him who had the power of death," Christ our God "gave Himself up for the life of the world." Of His "own free will [He] endured the Cross" and the grave. He Who is without sin and is also deathless, embraced death in an act of pure love - and solely to restore us to Himself.
By His death and His Resurrection, the Lord Jesus our Savior made "propitiation for the sins of the people" (vs. 17), thereby releasing "those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (vs. 15). He did not accomplish this sanctifying work on behalf of the angels who fell into disobedience (vs. 16), but for men and for our salvation. Consider: it was in mankind that the Lord placed His Own image (Gen. 1:27 LXX), the miracle of Creation. Later, in time, as exemplified by the woman who lost one of her pieces of silver, God lit a candle to illuminate His world, swept His house, and sought diligently till He found us (Lk. 15:8).
As we plumb the depths of the Incarnation, let us behold One like ourselves, Who "Himself has suffered, being tempted [and is] able to aid those who are tempted" (Heb. 2:18). Today He is able, ready and willing to aid us when we are tempted. He has faced the full, bitter struggle with sin, so that we might share in the riches of His eternal Kingdom.
O Lord, Thou hast dwelt in a cave and hast lain in a manger; O Thou Whose throne is in heaven, Thou didst condescend to the shepherds in order to save our race. Glory to Thee!