God Is With Us

In the great feast that we gather and celebrate this day, the only ones who know who Jesus is and where to find him, are the angels. These angels, you see, are very important. Without angels, no one would know one child from the next. Without angels, no one would know that the child born of Mary was the Saviour and Son of God. Without angels, no one would know where to look. Probably without angels, the shepherds would never have thought to look in a barn.

I think God made angels to tell us three very important things.

The first one is: God wants to be close to us. Very close. God wants to get as close as possible. So close that God can laugh and cry, and be hurt and comforted, grow and learn, be born and die, just like us. When you understand that message, then you will begin to wonder, how you can be close to God.

The second message is about where to find God. Where you look is what Christmas is all about. You have to look in unlikely places—in places where perhaps you would never expect to find God. Not with the powerful and the rich and famous, but with the weak and the powerless—with those who need protection, like a baby. When you understand that message, then you will begin to reach out to others who are helpless and powerless, and you will discover God.

The third message is about family. When God wanted to come to us and there was no room anywhere, there was room in a family. We all come from families, and every family looks a little different, but every family is a sacred and holy place. When you understand that message, then you will begin to see church as family and the place where you and your friends and your family and your home can learn about God, about forgiveness, about love, respect, and about holiness.

Now these are the things that angels know about and these are the things that the angels came to tell us: God wants to be close to us and we must find every way possible to be close to God. God is found where ever there are people who need protection, and we must take care of others who need us. God makes families, biological and church, holy, and in our family we learn to pray and grow to be holy.

Now if you think about this: you know who Jesus is. You know where to find him, and you know the message, so in a sense this day, we realize, we are like the angels—we have a message to tell and people to lead, and God wants us to spread the news, show the way, and to celebrate and rejoice this day.

Throughout the world this day, there are many gifts and many presents, many celebrations. But here in the manger is the only gift that matters: God so close to us that he is one of us, found in a most unlikely place, a child who makes us all family, brothers and sisters: Emmanuel, God with us. Merry Christmas.

Who Is Jesus?

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

On this 3rd Sunday of our Advent Season, we come closer and closer to celebrating again the birth of Jesus in our lives. In the gospel this Sunday, when John the Baptist was in prison, and heard of all the things Jesus was doing, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question—Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?

Now many scripture scholars have paused to consider this unique question from John the Baptist to Jesus. One of the explanations of this question is that John had expected the Christ to be identified by different actions and behaviours. It is often thought that John, like many of the ancient Jews, expected that the primary task of the Messiah would be to carry out the final judgment and to destroy all that has not produced fruit. The Messiah, it was popularly believed, would come to judge, condemn and destroy. Even many modern-day Christians believe this.


But John is hearing reports of a very different Messiah and he is puzzled. When the question of John finally reaches Jesus, he responds:


Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.


Is it any wonder John the Baptist is confused? Who is this Jesus?
Brothers and sisters, this may be a very good weekend to ponder and consider our own vision of who is Jesus? This may be a good weekend to examine our own image of Jesus as we prepare for His coming into our lives.


Who is Jesus for you?


Now, if you have spent years studying this question in seminary or formation or in courses and degrees, the answers may come fast, but chances are it will be somewhat scholarly and bit sterile.


On the other hand, perhaps some of us have not really thought about this question in a very long time. Sure, the images of Jesus may appear everywhere (on walls, in pictures, in mosaics, on icons, on a crucifix that hangs around someone’s neck); however, Jesus’ personal identity and how that identity personally and profoundly affects your life is exactly the stuff that the spiritual life is made of.
Perhaps we, like John, have an image of Jesus that is not exactly on the mark and perhaps that is why our spiritual lives may be stagnant or sluggish—or even nonexistent.


Who is Jesus for you?


Jesus provides some answers to this question this week. Jesus heals. Jesus cleanses. Jesus brings back to life that which was dead. Jesus brings good news to those in desperation.
Rather than cowering in fear or shame to a messiah who judges, punishes and condemns, let us respond to Jesus, who in our Gospel this weekend, reminds us of who He truly is.


Let us put all that is hurting, stained, dead and impoverished in our lives in front of the Lord. Let nothing come in between us and the Lord. Shame and sin paralyzes. The love of God in Christ brings healing. And this Advent, and this Christmas, once again Jesus, our God, comes to us, in the flesh.


Are you ready to welcome him?