We approach Christmas with vivid, violent reminders of the evils caused in our society by selfishness, ruthless ambition, twisted hatred and the craze for power at every level. This ugly drama is played out all over our world especially so in our politics, in the bitterness and irreconcilable differences sometimes found in our homes and families, among the peoples of the Middle East and Eastern Europe hopelessly engulfed in wars not of their choosing, in the mistrust found among nations and even in the lack of trust in church leadership.
Yet we gather as a people of faith in a holy season of hope. The voice of fear is drowned out for us by the message we were given in last week’s Scriptures: "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God!" That message is reinforced today in the example of two who rose above their fears and doubts with absolute trust and confidence in God's love, Joseph and Mary. Both are told not to be afraid in the face of an unusual pregnancy and an uncertain future. Mary would humbly accept her role as Mother of the Word-Incarnate. Joseph would abandon traditional wisdom and take his beloved as his wife, despite rumors and the pointing of fingers.
Through this young couple, God would give a sign to the whole of history, the birth of a Child - Emmanuel, God-with-Us - who would put an end to our fears and bring calm to our hearts.
The birth of this Child points to a much more universal mystery. God's irrevocable choice of our world - with all of its turmoil, fear, and uncertainty - is the place where salvation happens. And this Child is the one who would finally unite the human family in a new community of freedom, justice and peace.
It is this Child who will challenge political and religious systems, embracing a radical poverty of spirit, and reaching out with compassion and liberation for all the oppressed.
It is He who stirs the profound longings in all the hearts of mankind for true freedom, justice, and peace for ourselves, and for all of our brothers and sisters across the world. It is He who reinforces our Hope. He invites us to commit ourselves fully to these values. He begs us not to trivialize our resolve by being satisfied with token and occasional gestures of Christianity, but to strive even more forcefully to eliminate the hoarding, climbing, and controlling in our own lives and in the world at large.
The spirit of Advent and Christmas is a mirror in which we see reflected the very best that life can become. The experience of Joseph and Mary tells us that God is working in ways not immediately clear to us and that we can help each other to put away our fears and move from darkness into light to once again hear the words of life.
Today we are reassured that even in situations of conflict or confusion our God is faithful. Despite all of our uncertainties and difficulties our God is born again into our lives, builds us up and stays with us. For our God is named Emmanuel - truly God is with us.
