Atom“God is With Us”
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23
It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is almost here as I write this. Even though it is a busy, busy time of the year, it is also one of my favorite times because of all the preparation and anticipation of the celebration, and because of all of the ways we organize and plan so as to connect with those we love and even with those we hardly know. We plan our decorations and parties and get-togethers with family and friends. We agonize over just the right gift to show our love to those special people in our lives. We take an angel off the angel tree at the church or the mall and purchase a special gift for someone less fortunate than we. And we make plans to be present when God’s people gather for worship. We want to be there. We want to be with people we care about. We want to see and touch and be in the presence. How like God…
How like God…to want to be with those God loves. It is the message of the Advent and Christmas seasons: that God made careful preparations… that God anticipated the meeting…that God agonized over the gift for loved ones…and then, that God came. God became flesh and touched flesh and made sure to be present where all God’s people were waiting. What a great story! What a great love! And what a great reminder of our own call to let the love of God live in our flesh…to let Christ be born in us again in this season.
I am thinking of God coming among us even as I prepare for the memorial service for Marinette Emerson. Again this year we have gathered many times in this building to grieve and hope together…and some of you have gathered in other communities to remember other friends and loved ones. None of us is exempt when it comes to experiencing grief at the death of loved ones. Yet, because we know the hope of God in Jesus, we do not “grieve as do those who have no hope.” We find quiet and confident joy in the hope of the resurrection.
And we share that resurrection hope as God did…in the flesh. As I am preparing for the service, I see God’s people also preparing: scurrying around the kitchen and the rest of the building and making sure that the Emerson family will be welcomed and comforted in their loss. God’s people have shown up because others showed up for them, and because Marinette herself in years gone by “showed up” to serve those who were grieving.
So, I give thanks…for you…for showing up to share the love of God in the flesh – to be light in the darkness. How like God! Even then, I know that what happens here is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of your care. There are also hot rolls and hot meals delivered to the home…there are comforting hugs and hands warmly clasped in silent comfort…there are cards and personal visits that tell the hurting, “I care and God cares.”
God incarnate…God in the flesh…God visiting us in Jesus…God visiting us in person. God’s love is best communicated through you. Through words when necessary…but chiefly in the flesh -- through your acts of love and care. After all, it’s the way God did it. When words weren’t enough, God came. Thanks for coming…and going. Thanks for all you do.
Praying that God will gift you this Christmas,
Pastor Wade
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