God Is With Us!
Dear Parishioners,
As the season of Advent draws to its close, we once again hear from the prophet Isaiah, who urged King Ahaz of Judah not to rely on the power of human empires, particularly Assyria for protection against the alliance of Damascus and the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim), during the Syro-Ephraimite War. Isaiah passionately appealed to the king to seek “a sign… from the Lord himself.” Yet Ahaz, terrified and paralyzed by fear, could not bring himself to trust the prophet or to place his faith in God.
Still, Isaiah assured him that the kingdom of David would endure, even if the king himself faltered. The promised sign would come in the form of a child whose very presence would be God dwelling among His people. The name Immanuel— “God-with-us”—would testify that God would continue to sustain His people through a descendant of David.
Saint Paul draws upon this same belief in his Letter to the Romans, proclaiming that from the lineage of David would come the Son of God. The earliest Christian writings make this conviction clear: the great promises of God have been fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ.
As we celebrate Christmas, our appreciation deepens that God’s promises never fail and that our future ultimately belongs to Him. The entire history of the human race is turned upside down by the birth of Jesus, the Emmanuel. Christmas is far more than an anniversary of a past event—it reminds us that we are no longer alone.
God has entered our world in the most unexpected way. He invites us to change our outlook, to journey to Bethlehem, to the manger, where we find hope and a new beginning. He comes to save us from sin and to bring us peace.
Yes, Christmas proclaims that God is truly present in our midst; present in a simple, humble, fully human way. Yet we must never let the simplicity of Christmas dull our sense of wonder and awe.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, may our hearts be filled with praise. And like Joseph, may we do as the Lord commands and live each day in deeper union with Jesus, our Savior.
A blessed and joyful Christmas to you all.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor
