Emmanuel "God with Us"

Emmanuel "God with Us"

Fourth Sunday in Advent "A"

Deacon Kevin Reid

December 19, 2010

Therefore the Lord HIMSELF will give you THIS sign the Virgin shall Conceive, and Bear a SON, and She shall name Emmanuel.

The readings on this fourth Sunday that mark the last Sunday in Advent, are speaking to us today across the ages and are a sort of Theological Bookmarks.

Sort of a beginning and an end of the STORY.

Today's first one the "beginning of our bookend" speaks to us here today from back in the time of the prophet Isaiah who was answering the King Ahaz,who was seeking guidance for the political trouble that was brewing with his neighbors and he was asking for advice from the prophet Isaiah the one who "spoke" for God.

Ahaz like a wise politician was hesitant about who to endorse in this time of turmoil, not unlike our current politicians who are so quick to sidestep any real issue, perhaps dear friends it's just human nature for us all in times of trouble to look for an easy solution.

Isaiah the prophet is telling the King to ASK for a sign from the LORD that is as deep as the Netherworld and as high as the skies.

But Ahaz true to political form or human nature answers back that he will not tempt the Lord, perhaps the real situation might be just a little different for Ahaz as it sometimes can be for ourselves.

Just maybe perhaps like Ahaz we might be afraid of God's reply to our own petitions we might like Ahaz not like his answer, from that dilemma we get the statement that we should always be mindful and be careful of what we pray for

as we might just get what we are asking for but in the end not like the final result.

The truth today is not any different for us however the outcome we need to trust in Emmanuel the God who came into our world not only just to Shepherd us through all the difficult times but to also be there present to help us to celebrate in the best of times as well. You know it seems that often in those times of tension we do indeed TURN to the God whois willing to reach out his hand to us like he did when Peter who had himself for a brief moment walked on water, until he cried out "Lord save me".

But in TRUTH wasn't it that same God who was with him as he walked on the Water who also reached out so quickly to save him as he lost his faith and started to drown.

That is the God who is always with us; THE SAME GOD that Isaiah spoke of the one who would deliver his people he would be called Emmanuel.

In today's other end of our Book the other Bookend we see the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah the long awaited Savior that would deliver his people from the centuries of hardship, bondage and turmoil.

We know now that the Long Awaited Messiah did not ride into Jerusalem on a great white horse with one arm holding a sword up and displacing the Roman Occupation Force.

But rather like in his birth this savior would arrive by donkey just like how his mother had carried him into the City of David for the his foretold prophecy to come from the line of David, from the line of Ahaz. That his would be a miraculous birth and that Joseph a good and upright man would not turn his fiancé Mary away but stood by her after the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.

So in this gospel story there is a parallel to the story in our first reading.

In todays first reading Ahaz whose kingdom is threatened on all sides by his neighboring enemies.

Isaiah the prophet intervenes with an oracle of Salvation - Life is affirmed at the doorstep of destruction: A virgin will bear a child and his name will be Emmanuel "God with Us".

So Joseph in his dream is told by the Angel to call his child Jesus because he will deliver his people from Sin.

We are reminded of God's love and direct involvement in the two Dreams that Joseph would experience in caring for The child Jesus and his mother.

This Advent for me has been a time of joyful waiting and it has been particularly enlightened once again by our Childrens Christmas play at the elementary school.

The joy of watching their young voices singing together in faith has been for all who were in attendance that night a great example of the Beauty of all of the Hosts of Heavenly Choirs singing on the night of the Birth of Jesus.

As we prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus into our bodies with the reception of his body and blood let give thanks for Emmanuel "The God who is always with his people" and let it be our Advent prayer and vow to offer him a place to let his light shine forth from not only on this Christmas, but in every time we receive him into our hearts!