What does it mean to have “God with us”…Jesus with us? The theological word is “incarnate” which simply means to be in the midst of or among. This isn’t a God who is absent or a kind of watchmaker who wound the world up and left it to its own inadequate defenses. This is God who is in an intimate and everlasting relationship with his creation. What that means on a practical level is that this Jesus whose birth we celebrated on Christmas morning, will never leave us…is always concerned about us, and constantly ready and waiting to lift us up from the holes into which you and I in our broken humanness unwittingly and even intentionally fall. When you are in the greatest need, Jesus…through the hands and hearts of those who hear his voice…will always find a way to physically, emotionally and spiritually pour out his blessing, his grace and mercy upon you…regardless of where you are. All you have to do is ask.
We saw this incarnational outpouring of activity a couple of weeks ago as the whole Squamish community, in response to Jesus calling, came together to give 400 needy families a Christmas blessing. This is what happens when we listen and respond. It sets this community of Squamish apart from many others in BC, because it shows waht happens when we respond to the Lord's calling together.
However…it also begs the question. If we can do” it” in December…that is, address the homelessness, the hunger, the poverty that is growing exponentially in our midst…should we not also be doing it in February, or April or August? Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me…whatever you did not to for the least of these, you did not do for me.” Jesus is among us and calling to us 365 days of the year, not just at Christmas! Will you answer?
