Dearest e-votees-
This week we have the foretelling of Jesus birth as spoken in Isaiah 7:14:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bar a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
It is this "God with us" that is our hope. Thanks be to God.
Peace,
Karl
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This week we have the foretelling of Jesus birth as spoken in Isaiah 7:14:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bar a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
It is this "God with us" that is our hope. Thanks be to God.
Peace,
Karl
----------
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill 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.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25, NRSV
There is very little recorded in Matthew about Mary's carrying of the Christ child. No angelic visitation with Mary, no Mary and Elizabeth interaction, no Magnificat, no angels nor shepherds--all of those are found in Luke. What we have is a promise from God (through Isaiah's writings hundreds of years ago) and the fulfillment of that promise.
Sometimes we allow the story to get so very cluttered. We allow other scriptures, our imaginations, church traditions and intrusions from the world to crowd out the space needed for the Christ child. In truth it is still often the case that there is no room for "God with us". We surround ourselves with so much baggage (literal and figurative) that we put obstructions between ourselves and God.
Some would say we should discard these obstacles and draw near to God. The truth is that we would make yet another obstruction out of our own efforts or our own decision or our own wisdom in being a wise person who seeks him still. When we make it about us drawing near to God we make it into an idol.
The good news is that God made a promise and that God delivered on that promise. God initiated, God delivered and God delivers us still.
You might find yourself blessed (as well as amused) if you check out Retooning the Nativity. The trappings of the season are fine as long as we don't become entrapped in them and separated from God.
God, we thank you that you don't wait for us to seek you but that you insert yourself into our needy and sin-stained world. Help us receive you. Help us all to have a blessed Christmas celebration. Amen.
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
Sometimes we allow the story to get so very cluttered. We allow other scriptures, our imaginations, church traditions and intrusions from the world to crowd out the space needed for the Christ child. In truth it is still often the case that there is no room for "God with us". We surround ourselves with so much baggage (literal and figurative) that we put obstructions between ourselves and God.
Some would say we should discard these obstacles and draw near to God. The truth is that we would make yet another obstruction out of our own efforts or our own decision or our own wisdom in being a wise person who seeks him still. When we make it about us drawing near to God we make it into an idol.
The good news is that God made a promise and that God delivered on that promise. God initiated, God delivered and God delivers us still.
You might find yourself blessed (as well as amused) if you check out Retooning the Nativity. The trappings of the season are fine as long as we don't become entrapped in them and separated from God.
God, we thank you that you don't wait for us to seek you but that you insert yourself into our needy and sin-stained world. Help us receive you. Help us all to have a blessed Christmas celebration. Amen.
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