An Advent Meditation
God with Us
Advent season is traditionally understood as our seeking and longing, our waiting and expecting. Scripture indicates there is Another who also seeks and longs, waits and expects. The God-child “wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” seeks us out, walks among us, and calls out to us.
Near the beginning of our story, Genesis offers these words, "when the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, 'Where are you?'”
Our response to God seeking us is to run and hide in fear and shame. Yet, the divine presence persists. He is “Emmanuel, God with us.”
God seeks us.
And John writes of this God-child, "the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son."
God walks among us.
At the end of our story Revelation reminds us, “and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’”
God longs to be with us.
Merry Christmas to all my readers. May this season of longing find you at peace with the presence of God with us.
Thank you, thank you for this precious reminder! My prayer, my longing for 2024 was to be back in relationship with someone very important to me, someone I long to love and from whom I desire love in return. It’s nearly 2025 and thus far, that longing has been unmet.
Now, instead of grieving another year of separation, I’m going to concentrate on fulfilling the Desire of God’s great Heart -/ the One Who IS Love itself and without Whom Love cannot exist.
Again, Thank You, dearest niece!