Today’s readings tell us that Advent is about
“God-with-us”—about
recognizing God in human history, about acknowledging the fact that
God is present in us today.
To King Ahaz, “God-with-us” is bad news. He’s in peril, politically
and militarily, so his advisors tell him to form an alliance with
pagan Assyria. The prophet Isaiah tries to get Ahaz to turn to God
instead. Ahaz won’t listen. He’s already made up his mind. He won’t
ask Yahweh for a sign because he knows he has already cast his lot
with Assyria, not with Yahweh. Ahaz has turned his back on God, so he
understands that Emmanuel—God with us—the active presence of God here
and now, is very bad news for him. So Isaiah gives Ahaz a sign: one
of his wives will bear a child who will lead the people in the ways of
Yahweh, who will shepherd the people wisely.
We know that, when Matthew crafted his infancy narrative, he cited
this piece of the Hebrew scriptures as a foreshadowing of Jesus’
birth. Matthew shows Joseph behaving like his ancestor Ahaz, with a
decision to make; but unlike Ahaz, Joseph listens to God’s messenger.
From time to time we reach a point where we must make decisions that
are life-defining. How do we make those decisions?
Paul tells us that he has decided to follow Jesus, and he describes
himself as the servant of Jesus Christ. He devotes all of his energy
to that servanthood. He gives his life away. It’s life-defining.
We define ourselves by how we spend our lives. We can live as
prisoners of our habits and desires and addictions—entertainment,
houses, clothes, stuff. We can live as lovers of self, as lovers of
power. Or we can live as followers of the Way. The choices we make
define us.
It’s easy for me to see the results of life-defining choices that
other people have made. Over at Claver House Tuesday Yo-Yo—that’s her
street name—came in ranting and raving. Monday she had been pleasant
and smiling, but she was off her meds. I’m told she was a very bright
in high school, an A student. Then she made some bad choices, and her
life fell apart. Those choices define her life now, and it will be
very hard for her to change.
And then there’s Matt—he spent four years in prison, an angry young
man who also made bad choices. For him the story changed—he decided
to change. He got out of prison and worked his way to the point that
he’ll graduate from UT next spring. He decided to do without the
immediate gratification from his life of crime. He decided to be
responsible and worked to get his children together and raise them.
He breakfasts at Claver House, then heads off to class.
It’s not just one choice. We’re works in progress. We’re faced with
many choices along the way, and each of them forms us in a good or bad
way.
The coming of Emmanuel shines a light on us, on who we are, on who we
are becoming. It shows us what we put our faith in, which signs we
choose to believe in. It is up to us whether or not Emmanuel’s coming
is good news for us.
Now, three days before Christmas, we are invited to take stock, to
look once more at the choices we’ve made and the choices that are
ahead of us. Are we open to the signs of God’s presence among us? Are
we living as servants of God? If we can say “Yes,” Emmanuel is indeed
good news for us.
--
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
Mass at 2086 Brookdale (Interfaith Chapel):
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
Sundays at 9 a.m.
Mass at 3535 Executive Parkway (Unity of Toledo)
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
www.holyspirittoledo.org
Rev. Bev Bingle, Pastor
419-727-1774
recognizing God in human history, about acknowledging the fact that
God is present in us today.
To King Ahaz, “God-with-us” is bad news. He’s in peril, politically
and militarily, so his advisors tell him to form an alliance with
pagan Assyria. The prophet Isaiah tries to get Ahaz to turn to God
instead. Ahaz won’t listen. He’s already made up his mind. He won’t
ask Yahweh for a sign because he knows he has already cast his lot
with Assyria, not with Yahweh. Ahaz has turned his back on God, so he
understands that Emmanuel—God with us—the active presence of God here
and now, is very bad news for him. So Isaiah gives Ahaz a sign: one
of his wives will bear a child who will lead the people in the ways of
Yahweh, who will shepherd the people wisely.
We know that, when Matthew crafted his infancy narrative, he cited
this piece of the Hebrew scriptures as a foreshadowing of Jesus’
birth. Matthew shows Joseph behaving like his ancestor Ahaz, with a
decision to make; but unlike Ahaz, Joseph listens to God’s messenger.
From time to time we reach a point where we must make decisions that
are life-defining. How do we make those decisions?
Paul tells us that he has decided to follow Jesus, and he describes
himself as the servant of Jesus Christ. He devotes all of his energy
to that servanthood. He gives his life away. It’s life-defining.
We define ourselves by how we spend our lives. We can live as
prisoners of our habits and desires and addictions—entertainment,
houses, clothes, stuff. We can live as lovers of self, as lovers of
power. Or we can live as followers of the Way. The choices we make
define us.
It’s easy for me to see the results of life-defining choices that
other people have made. Over at Claver House Tuesday Yo-Yo—that’s her
street name—came in ranting and raving. Monday she had been pleasant
and smiling, but she was off her meds. I’m told she was a very bright
in high school, an A student. Then she made some bad choices, and her
life fell apart. Those choices define her life now, and it will be
very hard for her to change.
And then there’s Matt—he spent four years in prison, an angry young
man who also made bad choices. For him the story changed—he decided
to change. He got out of prison and worked his way to the point that
he’ll graduate from UT next spring. He decided to do without the
immediate gratification from his life of crime. He decided to be
responsible and worked to get his children together and raise them.
He breakfasts at Claver House, then heads off to class.
It’s not just one choice. We’re works in progress. We’re faced with
many choices along the way, and each of them forms us in a good or bad
way.
The coming of Emmanuel shines a light on us, on who we are, on who we
are becoming. It shows us what we put our faith in, which signs we
choose to believe in. It is up to us whether or not Emmanuel’s coming
is good news for us.
Now, three days before Christmas, we are invited to take stock, to
look once more at the choices we’ve made and the choices that are
ahead of us. Are we open to the signs of God’s presence among us? Are
we living as servants of God? If we can say “Yes,” Emmanuel is indeed
good news for us.
--
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
Mass at 2086 Brookdale (Interfaith Chapel):
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
Sundays at 9 a.m.
Mass at 3535 Executive Parkway (Unity of Toledo)
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
www.holyspirittoledo.org
Rev. Bev Bingle, Pastor
419-727-1774
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