O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

It happens every year, not just here in 2024. Advent always finds us in the midst of what can fel like our dark might, not just because the days are shorter in December, but also because it seems we are more aware of the perils that our life brings us. It does not seem to matter the year; we can have our fill of too many stories of the limitedness and short-comings of humanity all-around this time. This is but one more year in which we may long for light to pierce our darker nights. We long for something more, something deeper and lasting. We long for and hold onto hope, peace, joy, charity-the words of so many beautiful cards we might exchange, carols we sing. We seek and long for light for these, hope and long for light. With all that we have experienced in this year, it is quite natural to think that these days are darker than years past, but we know from history that we are not unique in facing challenges, even crises and struggles. The story of our life with God reminds us of this fact as well and remains the basis of the season we embrace now. Advent, as it prepares us for the incarnation, is the yearly reminder that we are not alone.

The powerful truth of Advent continues to be that God seeks us!

Inasmuch as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is too easy to forget that the Christmas story is not the beginning of the story, but the new and everlasting way for God to fulfill the promise already made. Throughout Advent, the message we hear with the writings of the Prophets has incredible meaning for us still today. I believe that what we celebrate in Advent is God continuing to be at work in us at this precise moment.

In these weeks of Advent, the Nativity and into Epiphany we are invited to
once again hear a still small voice that is God’s Spirit speaking to us-in Scripture, in our rich tradition of prayer, worship, great music, spiritual practices, fellowship, and especially with our outreach. Truly, what we do and who we are is an extraordinary blessing, especially in these times. I would argue what one can experience and feel on a deeper level is what faithful community itself is all about with all that we offer here at St. Thomas. In all that we offer, we celebrate God continuing to be at work in each other at this precise moment.

To make God’s love known by who we are, what we practice and how we serve others in Christ’s Name is more than a simply a clever vision statement; it truly frames the way we organize our common life and ministry at St. Thomas and even beyond our walls! We bring our parish into the world with how we live and practice our faith. We continue to be reminded that what we do together and individually forms what we can share with others; especially now in these weeks, how we each share light and hope. What is stressed in the messages we hear about promise, hope and light is not based on an abstract idea, new philosophy or occasional gestures; it is based on the power and depth of relationship.

How we live into and grow in our trust that God seeks to break into our life now just as much as God breaks into the world itself as Emmanuel-God with us. The world is longing once again for this light and hope as we pray and sing, “O come, O Come, Emmanuel.” We have much to share, especially now!

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is also the name of the latest Advent devotional booklet we have available. Taken from scripture and the writings of Henri Nouwen, we are invited to journey through the days leading to Christmas itself with a daily reflection.

Copies are available in the narthex as you leave church nave or contact the parish office and we’ll send you a copy.