Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”
Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David!
“Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
“Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:10-14
In 733 b. c. the Syrians and Ephraimites joined forces to destroy Judah, and King Ahaz feared the loss of everything. So the Lord sent his prophet Isaiah to assure the King that he had nothing to fear.
Yet Ahaz was not comforted.
And so “Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”
Ahaz was so hard to bless! The Lord tried to bless him with a word of encouragement, and Ahaz would not receive it. Then the Lord tried to bless him with a sign of encouragement, and Ahaz would not receive it.
Have you ever been so very frustrated by someone’s unwillingness to be blessed?
There’s no question that Isaiah was so very frustrated― “Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?!
Apparently the Lord shared Isaiah’s frustration: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.”
You don’t want a sign, Ahaz? Well, that’s just too bad, because I am determined to bless you!
So taking Ahaz by his kingly lapels, and fixing him with piercing eyes the prophet gave him a sign― “Look! Look! the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanu-El: With Us is God.
Eight centuries later an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.” Matthew 1:20-24.
Joseph was easy to bless!
Are you hard to bless, like Ahaz? Or easy to bless, like Joseph?
Christmas is a time to ask, “Are we ready to be blessed by the One who is ‘God with us’?”
Christmas is also the time to ask, “Are we ready to be a blessing? Are we ready to be “us with God?”
“Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.” John 12:26
Merry God-With-Us-Mass!
ST. GREGORY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH CHRISTMASTIDE SERVICES
DECEMBER 24 – SATURDAY – CHRISTMAS EVE
4:00 p.m. SPECIAL MUSIC – St. Gregory’s Choir and Brass Quintet
4:30 p.m. CELEBRATION OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND CHILDREN’S SERMON WITH GASTON
Choral Eucharist – child care provided
10:30 p.m. SPECIAL MUSIC – St. Gregory’s Choir and Brass Quintet
11:00 p.m. CELEBRATION OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Choral Eucharist
DECEMBER 25 – SUNDAY – CHRISTMAS DAY
10:00 a.m. CELEBRATION OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Holy Eucharist – Chancel Vocalists
DECEMBER 28 – WEDNESDAY – HOLY INNOCENTS
7:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
JANUARY 1 – SUNDAY – NEW YEAR’S DAY – HOLY NAME
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
JANUARY 4 – WEDNESDAY
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
JANUARY 8 – SUNDAY – 1 EPIPHANY– THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
Regular schedule of services and Christian Formation resumes with child care at all services
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Children’s Church
10:15 a.m. Church School and Adult Forum
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Please contact the clergy if you know of someone who is sick or shut-in and would like to receive the Sacrament during the Twelve Days of Christmas.
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