The First Incarnation
Over the years I have benefited from the writings of Richard Rohr. That happened again this week when I read a series of posts on his “Daily Meditation” site. There I was introduced to the concept of the two Incarnations. When Christians hear the word “Incarnation” they typically think of Jesus coming into the world the first Christmas. Rohr refers to this as the second Incarnation. What, then, is the first? That would be the Creation itself. He says “I want to suggest that the first Incarnation was the moment described in Genesis 1, when God joined unity with the physical universe and became the light inside of everything.” “Two thousand years ago marks the Incarnation of God in Jesus, but before that there was the Incarnation through light, water, land, sun, moon, stars, plants, trees, fruit, birds, serpents, cattle, fish, and ‘every kind of wild beast’ according to the Genesis creation story. This is the ‘Cosmic Christ’ through which God has ‘let us know the mystery of God’s purpose, the hidden plan made from the beginning in Christ’ (Ephesians 1:9-10).”
Although I have long understood Creation to be one of the supreme sources of divine revelation, I had not previously thought of Creation as the “first Incarnation.” It makes sense to me and if we adopt Rohr’s teaching it helps us look at God differently. It also causes us to look at the earth differently. We see it is truly holy. We see in it the immanence of God. Such a viewpoint opens the door for us to have a more intimate experience with God and the “Cosmic Christ.” It helps explain why many of us feel closer to God in nature than anywhere else. I realize not everyone will buy into this concept of a “first Incarnation.” Not everyone bought into the idea of the second Incarnation. But for those with eyes to see and faith to believe God’s presence in Jesus could be seen and felt. Likewise, for those with eyes to see and faith to believe, God’s presence can be seen and felt in the Creation.
In addition of bringing people into a closer communion with God, I would like to think that looking at Creation as the first Incarnation would move us to revere or honor the earth. Needless to say, we have not done a very good job of this in the past. The Cosmic Christ would seem to have fared no better than the earthly Christ. Understanding the Creation as a visible manifestation of God would hopefully lead us to seek to preserve and protect the earth. Not doing so might be compared to a second crucifixion. I do not believe it is going too far to say that failure to love and care for the earth is a failure to love and care for God.
There is much to be said for Richard Rohr’s concept of the first Incarnation. I hope you will give it further thought and that it will lead you closer to the one who is the Light of the world.
–Chuck