by 
Wednesday, November 30
God with us, revealed in us.
From Emmanuel, Emmanuel
By Rev. Jennie Churchman
This line from the Christmas carol “Emmanuel, Emmanuel” has always struck me as a bit odd. You would expect it to be, “God with us, revealed to us.” That’s how we normally think of the incarnation. God has been revealed to us in the person of Jesus. The veil between heaven and earth has been lifted, and we catch a glimpse of the divine in the face of that baby born in Bethlehem. “Revealed to us,” indeed. And yet, that’s not how the carol goes.
The phrase “revealed in us” gives a completely different perspective of the incarnation. It’s not just what we learn about God in the birth of Jesus; it’s also what we learn about ourselves. When you think about it, that makes perfect sense. Because Jesus was both fully divine and fully human, of course his birth would have something to say about our nature. His coming—His Advent—means that our lives now have a greater purpose. They have a sacred purpose. We are the ones who reveal God-with-us to the world.
How do we do that? Let me count the ways! We can be like Mary. She said yes to God’s call when it would have been so much easier (and safer) to turn away. So it is with us, if we say “yes” to the call. We can be like the shepherds. Luke tells us they left the manger with enthusiasm, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen. So it is with us, if we turn loose of our fear and let the Good News of Jesus Christ radiate out from us. We can be like the wise men. You know the story. When they finally found the place where the child was, they opened up their treasure chests and offered their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts told the story of the Christ event for those with eyes to see. So it is with us, when we share our gifts in meaningful, prayerful ways.
We have been given a significant responsibility. Emmanuel has been revealed to us; now it is up to us to reveal Him in our lives. Let’s use this season of Advent to find new and exciting ways to reveal God-with-us to all around.
Prayer: Merciful God, you have given us such responsibility—to reveal Emmanuel with our lives. Give us the courage and the vision to live up to this call. Inspire us to find new and loving ways to reveal Jesus the Christ through our words and our deeds. Amen.
