INCARNATION: There's a Belgian Catholic priest named Joseph Damien de Veuster sent from his country to minister to lepers on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai in 1873. The priest poured his heart and life into his work. But it was to no avail! Nobody responded to his ministry. After 12 years of disappointment, hew decided to return to his country. As he stood on the dock to say farewellm he noticed some mysterious white spots and felt some numbness. He immediately realized that he had contacted leprosy! He was now a leper! It was that moment that he made a choice to return to the leper colony and continue his ministry. Soon the word spread about his disease through the Island. Before long everyone knew. Hundreds of people came to his hut. They understood his sufferings. The following Sunday, it was the biggest surprise as the priest went to conduct the morning service. He found hundreds of worshippers already there. The place was packed with people and many more people had to gather outside the chapel. The rest is history! Father Damien's ministry became enormously successful. There was no question about whether or not he cared, because he had become one of them. Martin Luther said, "The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding!" The Bible says, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 |