Presence in the Midst of Loneliness – December 24, 2022

Scripture: Isaiah 9: 2-7; Luke 2: 1-20

What an “odd” church! What an “awed” church! A child is born with an odd (read “dubious”) heritage in an odd place (an animal shelter) under odd circumstances. But this is a “Prince of Peace,” a “Wonderful Counselor,” a “Mighty God.” Angels sing, people come from miles around, and a star shines brightly on the place where he lay swaddled. Odd enough. But then this Presence of God, Emmanuel, goes on to live an odd life of presence with the poor, the unlikely, the untouchable, the lowly, and in the end, gives himself for the sake of the least of these. There is no loneliness so deep that the Christ, Holy One, Presence of God does not know or cannot penetrate.