The 4th Sunday of Advent - O Come Emmanuel!

Psalm 80 repeats this refrain:  "Restore us, O God of hosts, show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved."  The psalmist was praying for a renewed relationship with God.

Advent gospel readings over the past three weeks have told us to keep awake in expectation of Christ's coming, to prepare for Christ by repenting our sins, and to recognize the deeds of Jesus as the inbreaking of God's holy reign.  Now we have the final Sunday of Advent and our readings shift from emphasizing our response to God to highlighting God's initiative in establishing a relationship with us.  The comfort for us this week rests in knowing that God is as interesting in having a relationship with us, as much as—or even more than—we are interested in having a relationship with God.

We may, as the psalmist did, pray for God to show us "the light of God's countenance."  In praying this we express our need for a clearer view of God, so we can be guided in making choices and in understanding what our lives are supposed to mean.

Isaiah expressed his feelings inadequacy when he had been called by God to be a prophet.  When he is finally able to say, “Here am I, send me,” he receives a frightening oracle about the destruction of Jerusalem. Yet he also receives a message of hope from God.

Isaiah relays the message that, despite the prophecy of destruction, King Ahaz must trust God to send a sign of hope.  But Ahaz cannot even manage to ask God to give him a sign.  Despite this lack of trust, a prophecy of hope did come to Ahaz through a child whose name, Emmanuel, means "God is with us."  God reached out to a reluctant Isaiah with a vision of God's power and glory.  God reached out to a stubborn Ahaz with a prophecy of hope.

How often are we facing a great challenge? It may involve our work or in our family or our health. Do we ask for a sign that God has not deserted us?  Truth be told, we often plow ahead, figuring that we'll have to manage the challenge without much help from anyone. Signs of God's presence may be subtle, usually more subtle than an oracle from a prophet.  But God does reach out to us to give us strength, patience, and hope.  How can we discern God's reaching out to us, God's calling us?

St. Paul considered himself "called" by God to be an apostle, sent to bring the story of Jesus Christ to those outside the Jewish faith. His “calling” experience consisted of being knocked to the ground, seeing the bright light of God presence, and hearing God's voice as he was traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians. Yet his understanding of what had happened continued to grow.  His discernment continued through conversations with Ananias of Damascus who baptized Paul.  Then Paul joined Jesus' disciples in Jerusalem for a period of time.  In these conversations Paul came to a deeper understanding of God's action in reaching out to him. As a result, he became a tireless preacher of the Gospel and founded many Christian congregations.  His words we heard today from his letter to Roman Christians explain how he now understands God's call to him and to those who will hear his letter read.

Unlike Paul's call, Joseph's calling came quietly through a dream.  His challenge was what to do about his betrothed Mary finding herself pregnant.  Should he shame her in front of the community?  Strict observance of the law would lead to her being stoned.  He must have loved her deeply, because he decided to handle the situation privately.

Yet God reached out to Joseph in a dream to call him to both trust and compassion beyond simple righteousness and to take Mary for his wife.  Matthew reminded the people who would hear and read his gospel that the promise of God's presence among us would come through this baby as it had in Isaiah's prophecy to King Ahaz.  Joseph's call from God asked for him to do more than even a good man might be expected to do.   Joseph understood and followed God's leading.

Our place on this fourth Sunday of Advent may not be all that different from King Ahaz or St. Paul or Joseph or the psalmist.  In the midst our challenges and troubles, we need God's presence.  We need to be prepared to receive what God wants us to hear and understand.  We need to be aware of how God may come to us--perhaps through some dramatic event or sign, but more likely in a quiet way through a conversation with someone or in our prayers or even in a dream.  God may be calling us beyond what we think is needed or what appears proper given the circumstances.  Above all, God will be asking us to trust that God's presence will continually support us with God's grace and love.  In the light of God's countenance we may rest secure, no matter how dark the night or how turbulent the storm of our lives.  God has promised to be with us, Emmanuel--O Come, O Come Emmanuel!