Has Covid, the lockdowns, curfews, restrictions, changed your life? Has it changed the way you socialize? The way you worship? The way you work? The way you shop? Sometimes changes make us very unsettled and even fearful. Just think of Mary on the day she found out she was pregnant and was to give birth to the Son of God. She was visited by an angel. She was told that she was blessed and favoured by God. She was told she had the privilege of bearing God’s son. Now, instead of excitement and bewilderment we are told she was startled and told to not be afraid.
Change can frighten and startle us – like the changes we had to make so quickly with lockdowns, restrictions and curfews. But they can also challenge us and present new opportunities. Many churches, including our own, now reach out beyond our 4 walls into the wider community through recording of services and live streaming. A lot of people stepped up as more volunteers were needed with the introduction of new procedures like cleaning, sanitizing, communion distribution, contact tracing and a whole range more and they continued to make themselves available once normal life resumed. So it’s more of the unknown that frightens us just as it no doubt frightened Mary who would go forward into motherhood where questions would be asked of the legitimacy of the baby as she wasn’t married – and her claims that she was carrying God’s son.
And that’s why it was so comforting to Joseph when he was told of God’s plan that the angel that visited him said that Jesus would also be known as “Emmanuel” – God is with us. So despite what would happen in the future – their escape into Egypt when Herod finds out he had been tricked by the 3 wise men – they knew that God, Emmanuel, is with them. This promise, will be affirmed by Jesus when he said at the Ascension and in our Baptism – I am with you always till the end of the age.
It is a very different world ahead of us – none of us know how things are going to shape up. But what we do know is that God has promised to be with us. Jesus’ birth is God’s affirmation of his love for us and his presence with us always. And Jesus himself comforts us about the uncertainties in life when he says in the Book of Revelation: “I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Similar to what the book of Hebrews says about Jesus: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
So whatever uncertainty the future holds we have the certainty of God, through Jesus being the Omega – the end who is to come. And that’s why each year we tell the same Christmas story. It may change in the way we tell it but the story never changes. God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. The Virgin birth – Jesus, Mary, Joseph. Born in a manger because there was no room at the inn.
The shepherds. The wise men following the star in the east. The Christmas Carols we sing are all the same, be it Away in a manger, O come all ye faithful or Silent Night. These are all messages of comfort, assurance and stability in a world that is ever changing while being governed by God who doesn’t change. It was the story told to our great grandparents – it is the story that will be told to our great grandchildren. It won’t change and neither will God’s promise to be with us always.
As the world around us changes we have a God who sent his son Jesus, called Emmanuel – God is with us. And so, like Mary, the message to us is – The Lord has blessed you and is with you – do not be afraid. So this Christmas, let us celebrate and not be afraid of whatever the coming year has before us because God is indeed with us through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord – born in a manger – destined to rule for eternity.
