Waiting for Community

A reflection on Isaiah 7:10-16

Tis the season, really tis, the season, that we are now rushing around doing the last bits of holiday planning. If you’re like me, you’re woefully woefully behind. I always am. By this point, I should just start in August because by the time I think about all I need to do and certainly want to do, it’s really too late.

But here we are. We often think, in the lead up to Christmas, that we can plan for every eventuality, prepare the perfect holiday, fulfill all social obligations. But I certainly can’t. There’s always something I wanted to do that I forgot. Always a thoughtful card that goes unanswered, always someone who surprises me with a gift for whom I haven’t prepared.

In this week's reading, we join a story already in progress. King Ahaz and the little kingdom of Judah is under threat from Israel, the northern kingdom and Aram, which is where Damascus is. Israel and Aram want Judah to join a coalition against the Assyrian empire, but King Ahaz of Judah feels his two neighbors will fall. And these neighbors are willing to do anything, even invade, to get the Judeans on their side.

So, King Ahaz tries to secure Jerusalem by seeking help from the big baddies themselves, the Assyrians. Isaiah here is telling Ahaz that his scheming and plotting, his alliance with the Assyrians, is bound to bring ruin on Jerusalem.

Isaiah says to Ahaz, don’t fear. Don’t try to plan, because your best laid plans will still lead to ruin. You should trust in the Lord, that God will provide for you, and stay true to your principles. Ahaz doesn’t listen, so Isaiah says well, it’s all gonna come down. But all is not lost, Isaiah says. For a child will be born, his name will be Immanuel. God with us.

And though the land will perish away, this child will survive and be a symbol of God’s solidarity with us. God will be with us, come hell or high water, whether you listen to God or not. God is on our side.

And while you may bring temporal ruin in the here and now, this temporal ruin is… temporary. And God will see us through to a better time, of God’s redemption.

God may seem far off, but God will never leave us. For, in God, we are never alone.

One week before Christmas, you may feel like there’s too much to do and it all falls on your shoulders. But take comfort in the fact that you cannot do it all. You can’t. You can only do what you can do.

And even if you do nothing else, Jesus Christ will still be born. Family will still gather. And your love and God’s love will still be there. This, after all, is what we celebrate: community! Togetherness! All the work is for the sake of joy.

The miracle of Christmas is Immanuel, meaning "God with us". Community is one of the ways we experience "God with us" in real and tangible ways. It looks like showing up imperfect and being met with grace. It looks like sharing joys and burdens, coffee and conversation, prayer and laughter. Community reminds us that faith is not something we carry alone, but something we live together. God is with us, and we are with one another.

And God stuck with us, as God promises, God stuck with us even to death on a cross.

And stuck like glue, God brought us and all creation to everlasting life.

God will stick with you, through thick and thin. No matter what happens. Whether you listen to him or not. This is the miracle of Christmas. God is with us, and will be with us forever.

So come Assyrians or a delayed shipment from Amazon, God will be with us. Bringing life, light, and community.