The holy icons that adorn the walls of our church are much more than mere artistic depictions. They are profound theological statements that affirm a core tenet of our faith - the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. But the Word also became flesh and dwelt among us. Christ took on human nature, while remaining fully divine. This uniting of the immaterial, eternal God with material creation is a profound mystery.
The holy icons bear witness to this reality. They depict Christ, His mother the Theotokos, the saints and angels - all with physical form and material substance. Yet at the same time, they reveal the divine energy, grace and glory that radiates through creation.
When we venerate icons, we affirm that matter itself can become a vehicle for the immaterial, a means by which the spiritual can be perceived. The icon is a window into the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as Christ made the invisible God visible through His incarnation, so too do icons make the immaterial spirit-world perceptible to our physical senses.
The icon is no mere illustration, but a living presence in the Church. As we contemplate the icon, that prototype projects rays of divine grace, virtue and power upon us. Let us give thanks for these holy icons that proclaim the good news that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).
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