But. In the meantime. I think that we can live into Christmas—that we have something incredibly huge and important to celebrate, even in a world that awaits its final redemption. God wanted to be with us so much, and wanted us to know how beloved we are, that Jesus came to us in a human body, to live a human life.

The Incarnation itself is a wonderful gift—of presence, of solidarity, of simple experience. We can know that Jesus knows what it’s like to be hungry, to be thirsty, to be frustrated, and to grieve. We can know that Jesus understands what it feels like to be human. The God who loves us had a plan for our redemption, but also—and this is more important than we usually take the time to acknowledge—simply wanted us to know how completely we are loved and understood.

And that is something to celebrate, indeed.

I’ll see you in church—

Becky

P.S. Thank you to the M&M’s for the wonderful Cookie Walk and fellowship—the cookies were wonderful and the laughter and fellowship even more so!

Prayer

Ever present God,

You taught us that the night is far spent

and the day is at hand.

Grant that we may ever be found

watching for the coming of your Son.

Save us from undue love of the world,

That we may wait with patient hope for the day of the Lord,

and so abide in him,

that when he shall appear, we may not be ashamed;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[1]

[1] From the Church of Scotland via the UMC Book of Worship 2016.