Christmas Peace

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
– Luke 1:26-28

Emmanuel – God With Us.  This is who we celebrate at Christmas.  In the midst of unsettling news and difficult times, Mary was greeted by the angel Gabriel with, “The Lord is with you.”  She didn’t find this comforting at first.  Her response was feeling “greatly troubled”.  At the end of their conversation, Mary’s response was, “May it be to me as you have said.”  Mary was faithful to God and to the task God was asking of her, to bear the son of God.  She didn’t know how it would all turn out, but she held firm to the promise of Gabriel, “The Lord is with you.”

We face difficult situations.  The past two years have been filled with challenges and obstacles to “life as we knew it”.  We have been greatly troubled at the constant stream of difficult news.  And yet, God has been with us.  God continues to be with us.  God IS with us.  That fact gives me comfort and peace.  The fact that Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, is still and always with us – gives a peace that passes understanding.  May you experience God’s presence and peace this day and every day.

This past Sunday I shared a few quotes from one of my Spiritual Mentors, the medieval Church Mother, Julian of Norwich.  I pray these give you comfort and peace this week:

“He (Jesus) said not ‘Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be dis-eased’; but he said, ‘Thou shalt not be overcome.”

“If there is anywhere on earth a lover of God who is always kept safe, I know nothing of it, for it was not shown to me. But this was shown: that in falling and rising again we are always kept in that same precious love.” – Julian of Norwich

This week’s question: How does God’s presence give me peace?

Through the Advent season, we remember women in the genealogy of Jesus.  Rahab was with child and bore a son.  We give thanks that Rahab, heroine of Jericho, kept Israel safe.  Rahab’s faith and knowledge made this foreign woman an important person in Israel’s history.

Lord, in these days, we long for a new day — a day when the Earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.  Help us to know and experience your presence and your peace.  Amen.

Hear then, O house of David!  The Lord will give you a sign.  A young woman shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, which means “God is with us.”