Divine Living in a Human State of Mind

What does it mean to be fully human? What does it mean to embrace this heart, mind, body and soul that God has created? These are important questions when examining our faith. These questions remind us that we are not merely a spiritual being trapped in a bodily shell; we are reminded that our body, mind and soul are all connected and integral parts of one another; we are reminded that God is a divine artist, sculptor and creator. So what does it mean to be fully human and alive in this world?

We don’t have to look very far for the answer to these questions. Jesus is the perfect example of what it means to live life to its fullest human potential. Jesus, the Word made Flesh (the Incarnation) is fully human, yet fully divine. This is the mystery of God. Through his human nature, Jesus teaches us how to live in our mortal bodies with a rich and deep spiritual fortitude. To live a life that is fully human means to live a life that is spiritually nourishing and grounded in Christ. When our spirits are healthy, our humanity thrives despite our shortcomings, hardships and challenges. A healthy spiritual life allows us in our humanity to face life with compassion, love, forgiveness and with a fearlessness that comes from an open and vulnerable heart.

Jesus was made perfect in everyway, but he experienced the full spectrum of emotions in his humanity that we do. While Jesus lived his life without sin, that is a luxury that you and I don’t have in this life. We are sinners whose humanity is broken, divided and consumed by burdens. Yet God made us perfect. God made us in his image. God blessed us and molded us to be above all of his creatures. Christ in his humanity reminds us of the perfect nature of God; a breath of life that we once shared. But God doesn’t make junk, and despite our human fallibility we are saved through the perfection of Jesus Christ.

So what does it mean to be fully human? It simply means that we will make mistakes in this life, yet we are fully redeemed. We bear burdens, but we’re not alone. We stumble and fall, but Christ is always there to pick us up. To learn what it means to be human is to accept the diversity in which God has created in each of us, and become willing to live life on life’s terms in joyful gratitude for the rich blessing of communion with Christ and one another.