As we draw nearer to the story of the Christ child, we focus on the way God appears in the smallest and humblest places. This Sunday, the 4th Sunday in Advent, we will hear about the birth of the Christ child. We’ll hear it from Matthew 1 (appointed for this Sunday). Matthew speaks of Joseph’s struggle about what to do since Mary is pregnant before they got married. There is pain in the story, and mistrust, and uncertainty abounding. You may know those feelings intimately as well. God comes not because our lives are so ready, but because of our need. God comes to our world out of love for us. It takes some practice to hear that news amid the pain and confusion of our days.
Matthew quotes from the prophet Isaiah, where in chapter 7 God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign. God invites Ahaz to do so, but Ahaz is afraid and says, “I won’t go out on a limb or put the Lord to the test.” Ahaz is focused on big things, and feels scared. God tells Ahaz instead to pay attention to receiving the small. God says, “Nevertheless, I will give you a sign – a young woman is pregnant and will give birth and call the child Immanuel (God is with us).”
While we may have heard the story of the Christ child so often that we can feel inoculated from it, this year gives us a chance once again to be startled by this. How can we receive the small in such a way as to perceive God there? In a song, a candle, a passage of scripture? In a person at the table with you? In a moment, just a moment where you are open to a love that is beyond our imaginings? The Christ child comes for you, and comes for all who are looking and longing in this season.
Three Holy Days
In our tradition, we make space on Maundy Thursday to remember central parts of our faith story. We hear about the...
