As Advent approaches, we enter into a time of anticipation which culminates in the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Christmas marks the moment that we pause to celebrate the fact that God became human, entering into his creation in order to redeem it. The incarnation – while mysterious – is a profound statement of hope. It declares that God has not given up on the world. If God would take on flesh and enter the messy, fragile, and beautiful reality of life, then creation itself is sacred, loved, and worth redeeming.
But the incarnation doesn’t just inspire hope; it also calls us to action. When God became human, He didn’t arrive as an independent, self-sustaining being. He came as a baby, entirely dependent on creation – on Mary for nourishment, on the earth for food, and on a stable made of trees and mud and bricks for shelter. The Creator became Emmanuel – God with us – interdependent with His creation, inviting us into a new way of seeing our world that is deep and profound: we are not independent beings. Our survival and flourishing depend on the health and well-being of God’s good creation. Because we are interdependent beings, how we move through the world can make the world better, or it can make the world worse.
As we celebrate Christmas, it’s easy to lose sight of this reality. Each year, many of us celebrate the birth of Christ with wasteful excess—mountains of wrapping paper, single-use decorations, and piles of discarded plastic. If we’re not careful, our celebrations can contradict the very message of the incarnation. How can we honour Christ’s coming while neglecting the whole of creation He came to redeem?
The incarnation reminds us that the world is not disposable. God’s decision to enter creation in the form of Jesus affirms its value and intrinsic goodness. If God chose to rely on creation to sustain His life as a human, then we, too, must acknowledge and embrace our dependence on the earth. Our interdependence with creation mirrors our dependence on God and one another. We are part of a complex web of relationships that sustains life—plants, animals, soil, water, and air. Recognising this interconnectedness invites us to live differently, to steward creation with care, and to protect the very systems that sustain us.
Advent is a season of anticipation, but it’s also a time of preparation. As we reflect on the hope of the incarnation, we are called to align our lives with the realities it embodies. This means taking tangible steps to care for creation and ensuring our celebrations reflect the sacredness of God’s world. What might this look like? It could mean reducing waste by wrapping gifts in reusable materials or choosing experiences over things. It might involve using natural decorations, supporting local and sustainable businesses, or planning a community cleanup. These small acts honour the God who entered creation and affirms our commitment to care for His good earth.
The incarnation reveals to us that God’s love is not abstract or distant – it is embodied, relational and engaged. This Advent, may we embrace the hope of the incarnation, allowing it to transform not only our hearts but also our habits. Let us celebrate the birth of Christ in ways that honour His creation, embodying the good news of redemption and interdependence. For in caring for creation, we embody the love of the one who came to dwell among us.
