by 
Separation and Reunion
Kathy W.
The passage before us today is one of great joy and exultation, but the scriptures that immediately precede it tell of God’s intent to destroy Judah because of their idolatry and unfaithfulness, their separation from God. This reversal of God’s intentions is a glimpse of the redemption that will come to full fruit in the person and godhead of Christ.
Separation and Reunion — the twin poles in our relationship with God. Once we were separated from God; now we are offered reunion through God’s redemption.
Many years ago, while I was sitting on a train in London, I witnessed a physical representation of these spiritual states. I looked out the window and saw a young family-clearly American tourists-getting ready to board the train. As the train pulled into the station, the parents were distracted by their misbehaving son and turned away. The little girl didn’t notice and ran right onto the train as the doors closed. The parents were stricken as the gulf between them and their child widened, moment by accelerating moment. The little girl was terrified and burst into tears. They were separated.
It was a different time, when a stranger could help a helpless child, and I shepherded her off the train at the next stop and back to the station where her parents stood, not so much panicked, but shattered and numb. When they saw their daughter, their faces lit up and tears streamed down the mother’s face. Reunion.
This is the promise of God. We who have been separated from God can be reunited with God. Twice in our scripture passage, we are assured that God is “in our midst”.
The message of Christmas, “Emmanuel — God is with us”, is not new; it has ever been so.
Prayer: God, we thank you for Christ who has crossed the great chasm that separates us from you and your goodness.
