'God is with us' -- not just now and then, but then and now

"Christ in the Rubble," a modern icon written by Kelly Latimore

A few years ago, Red Letter Christians, a group of writers, speakers and pastors dedicated to re-centering Christianity on the life and teachings of Jesus, created their own series of Advent readings. They chose a modern icon to illustrate those devotions. “Christ in the Rubble,” written by Kelly Latimore, depicts the Holy Family huddled in the midst of fallen stones and tumbling  buildings (Matthew 1:23). It is a fitting image for the Red Letter Christians’ Advent devotions – each daily entry is written by a Palestinian pastor, teacher or theologian.

Preparing for Christmas with Palestinian reflections reminds us that we are all huddled in the midst of falling stones and tumbling buildings. That does not imply that all of us suffer as Palestinians are suffering now. Or that other people in other places are not enduring hardships. Instead, it’s an observation about the brokenness of human beings that has brought death and destruction into the world over and over again throughout history. Within countries, between countries, within communities, between communities, within families and between families. 

Christmas doesn’t always push aside the suffering as much as it calls attention to it. This year’s readings for the final Sunday of Advent focus not on Mary’s story, but on Joseph’s. Learning that his betrothed is pregnant, he is filled with fear. Not, according to Matthew, for himself, but for Mary, who might face public disgrace if her situation were widely known. A messenger from God appears to Joseph. “Do not be afraid,” the angel says and goes on to explain the action required of Joseph. 

Joseph’s story hearkens back to an ancestor mentioned in his genealogy (Matthew 1:9).  King Ahaz had faced a similar dilemma in the distant past. The Old Testament recounts his story in the readings for this fourth Sunday of Advent. When his country of Judah faced threats of war, Ahaz was torn between addressing the threat of smaller nations who were planning an attack against him or addressing a larger threat from the kingdom of Assyria. Ahaz saw only two choices. But the prophet instructs Ahaz on a third path – to trust God and recognize a sign of what to do. The sign, Isaiah says, is this: “The virgin is with child and will give birth to one called Emmanuel, and that is a name that means God saves” (Isaiah 7:14).  The point was to assure Ahaz that his own heir would be born soon and the kingdom would be saved. But Ahaz, too afraid to trust God, rejected the sign, turned toward Assyria and surrendered his people to Assyrian domination.

But in Matthew’s gospel, Joseph has the courage to trust God and relies on an echo of the same promise. The angel tells Joseph, “‘The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us’”  (Matthew 1:23). Which is precisely what the Red Letter Christians call their Advent devotions, “God with Us.”

Maybe this year, we can recognize the same message that Ahaz and Joseph received. In the midst of threats, fear, fallen stones and the brokenness that surrounds us, may we hear the prophet and the angel speaking to us: “Do not be afraid . . . . God is with us.”

— Nancy Haught