Emmanuel

But Mary treasured all these things,

giving careful thought to them

and pondering them in her heart.

-Luke 2:19 (Amplified)

Christmas, and the story of the nativity, can strike us differently each year.  Even though it never actually changes.  Many times, we look to find ourselves in the story.  Who do we connect with?  Whose story speaks of our own?  I wonder what we would see if we followed Mary in treasuring, thinking carefully and pondering.

This year I have read, re-read, and re-read again the early accounts in Matthew and Luke, and even a little about John in the gospel of Mark.  And I have pondered what it tells me about God.

So many angelic encounters, brushes with the Holy Spirit and promises fulfilled. 

What is God showing us?  What can we glean about who He is?

What is happening in God’s story?

Emmanuel is happening.  All through the story – God is with us.

Zechariah & Elizabeth

Joseph & Mary

Shepherds

Wise men from afar

Simeon & Anna

In all of their stories, the divine drew close – intentionally, strategically and compassionately.  I can sense God’s excitement, heaven’s anticipation, to be close to us. To be close to me.

Before we were cleansed, He moved intimately close to us.

As people, we seek to understand and control by setting up boundaries, categories and structures.  God’s movement defies and crisscrosses economic, social and generational lines.  He doesn’t just choose one messenger, as we see in the Old Testament.  He is all over the place!  God creates two miracle babies, illuminates a dark night, speaks into dreams and provides in some of the most creative ways possible.

Why?

The answer is awkwardly, uncomfortably simple.  Love.

Think of all the best Christmas movies, the ones we love to dive into and relish year after year.  They revolve, in one form or another, around love.  Being loved, finding love, believing in love.  There is a need to belong and a need to not be alone.

We crave them because we carry a deep, unnamed, aching need – to be loved. 

You see, in this story, what we learn about God is that He is the One Who Loves. At all costs.

And we are the beloved.

Mary, Joseph, the poor shepherds with their dirty clothes, the wise kings with their gold rings, Zechariah the priest, Anna the widow - they are all the beloved.

Emmanuel is happening.  All through the story – God is with us.

Holy is the night I am in. Holy is the place where I sit. Father God, I pray we would feel you drawing close and that we would not back away. Whether we feel raw or beautiful in Your sight, may we come. The Light is about to break through! Holy Spirit well up in us, that we might dare to draw close to the Lord. Spur us to draw close to each other as well, with intention, with compassion and with hope.

In the name of Jesus, who came in the shadows that heaven illuminated,

Amen

Breath Prayer:  Emmanuel (breathe in), God is with me (breathe out)

Worship: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, by Stephen McWhirter