Greetings to you my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord.
This morning, let us reflect on the meaning of this season, the true meaning of Christmas.
The meaning of Christmas is in the name that the Prophet Isaiah announced that the New born king should be called:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).
Today, we celebrate God-with-us. We celebrate God’s presence with us through a child. Today we celebrate God -becoming-man, so that we might see Him, touch Him, hear Him.
One of the struggles of the people of Israel was idolatry. They tried to imitate the nations around them who had some visible representatives of their gods. There is a human desire to see, feel and touch God and this desire improperly appropriated can lead to idolatry.
To fulfill this desire, God became man and dwelt among us. So Christmas celebrates Immanuel – God with us. God who is in heaven, made His tent among us, God who is utterly transcendent, became our neighbour.
This is the summary of today’s Gospel. The Word who is God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father, became flesh and dwelt among us.
Dear friends, let us just meditate on this name – God-is-with-us. Let us say it – “God-is-with-us.” Think about it for a moment. What does it mean?
I. It means we are not alone no matter what.
Christmas in itself is a joyful season but for many reasons, some people do not find it so. This season is really difficult for some people. Many will not be able to see and share meals with their family and loved ones. Many won’t be able to have their customary Christmas party and get-together. Some are bereaved and so they will have to deal with celebrating Christmas without someone they love.
Many are feeling lonely, unwell, unhappy. Many are in pain and some are in the hospital.
Amidst all these, let us not forget the meaning of this season – God is with us. We are not alone. Whatever our condition or situation, let us think of these words – God-is-with-us.
Hebrews 13:5 says: He will never leave you or forsake you.
II. It means God is for us and no one can be against us.
Some of us are really fighting battles at this moment – spiritual battles, battles in our places of work, battles within the family, internal battles, battling with forces and powers we do not know.
Immanuel reminds us that God is with us. Yes, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). If God is with us, we are more than conquerors. It means no matter what we are going through and who/what stands in opposition to us, we won’t be crushed. God is with us to fight for us and to deliver us.
III. God understands because He is with us.
Sometimes we ask, “God, where are you?” Sometimes we think nobody, not even God, understands what we are going through.
Dear friends, God understands. He shares in our humanity. We are not serving a God who doesn’t know how humanity struggles. He is not a God who is aloof. He shares in all our fears, needs, pains, struggles. He is able to understand and help us because He lived among us.
We read in Hebrews 4:15:
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet he did not sin.
Dear brothers and sisters, God is not just above us, God is not against us, God is not just ahead of us. God is with us, God is for us.
No matter the situation we are in, God will always be with us.
No matter what is around us, let us remember that God is with us.
No matter the battle we are fighting, God is with us.
No matter who is not around us, who has left us or who could not come to see us, let us remember that God is with us.
No matter who/what is before us, let us remember that God is with us.
And He shall be called Immanuel – a name which means God is with us.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on December 25, 2022.