Saturday, December 22, 2012

God With Us

Read Matthew 1:22-23

²²All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
²³ ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’

As we are looking forward to lighting the fourth Advent candle tomorrow morning, we are reminded that we have lit candles symbolizing hope, peace, and love.  This Sunday we light the candle for joy.  I can imagine no greater joy than Emmanuel, God with us.  As we talked about on Wednesday with Isaiah and the name Immanuel, God being with us means that we are not alone, that we can find hope, peace, joy, and love in the presence of God.  

My favorite affirmation of faith at the moment is the affirmation of faith for the United Church of Canada.  I encourage you to read it aloud, to listen to the peace that our faith provides us.  The peace that the presence of God in Jesus Christ gives us.

 “We are not alone, we live in God’s world.  We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit.  We trust in God.  We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.  In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.  We are not alone.  Thanks be to God!”

Brandi Tevebaugh

Eternal and loving God, pour out in our hearts this day the light of your love, warming us to one another, enlightening our understanding of others, and revealing the path of charity upon which you have called us to walk. Amen.