The council of Nicea gathered in 325 CE to explore this mystery. They had a decision to make. Was Jesus merely like God or could we say that Jesus was God? Was it homooisios (like God) or homoousios (the very substance of God)? One letter separates these words. Would it be “i” or “u”? Hundreds of years of theological debate concerning the Incarnation came down to this - one letter, one small and insignificant letter that had labored in obscurity for eons in millions of words now found itself on center stage.

Many great thinkers have reflected on the significance of this chapter in church history. Who would have thought that one tiny vowel would carry the full weight of God? Fortunately, the letter “u” prevailed. The doctrine of the Incarnation survived. Jesus is not merely like God. Jesus is the very substance of God. Hallelujah! Perhaps it is fitting that the God who chose to reveal his glory by submitting himself to the limits of one body would also choose to submit himself to the utterly ridiculous limits of just one letter, revealing his glory there as well. Maybe he was just showing off, but this appears to be his preferred method of revelation. God likes little things.

I imagine that St Francis, who was always honoring the little things, may have praised the letter “u” for its part in salvation history.

“Thank you, brother “u” for having done your part to save the world. We would not know the fullness of Jesus, or the comfort of Emmanuel, the very presence of God, if not for you. And thank you, “i” for your role too. Do not despise your diminished state. You were the foil to your brother, but your presence gained him honor. The truth would be incomplete without you. This is your grace. You are both saints.

Ah…if only I could be more like the letter “u” and warmly embrace my small contribution to the world. What a wonderful sacrament – a reminder of the Incarnation! Perhaps then, I would bear the full weight of God’s glory, and participate in salvation history, if only for a moment. Or maybe that’s too ambitious. Maybe it is enough to be the letter “i” and play the foil to my brother’s and sister’s who are called to center stage – to let my flawed presence give them honor and do so without despising my diminished state. Perhaps, even here, there is a grace that is uniquely mine.

I think of the routinely humble and limited roles that so many of us play within our families, churches, organizations and communities. Few of us are on the big stage of life. Most of us fly under the radar screen and labor in obscurity with little or no recognition. Rarely do we live up to our best thoughts or hopes. Our better angels are elusive and painfully shy. Sin crouches at our door. More often than not the chariots of God’s grace are a kind thought, a good word, an honest prayer, a timely phone call, or some other seemingly small act.

If the Incarnation means anything, it means that God routinely prefers to inhabit the little things. Perhaps this is why the Church has insisted that the Kingdom of God is not only big enough to contain the entire universe, but that it is also small enough to fit comfortably inside the human heart and to do so with delight. Thank God for the little things.