Sickness is so much a part of human life. Illness, like failure, reveals to us the truth of our human condition: ‘of ourselves we can do nothing.’ It is when we are sick that we realize how dependent we are. And it is here, face to face with our weakness, our emptiness, our incapacity, that God comes to meet us. As St Paul reminds us, ‘it is when I am weak that I am strong.’ Or again, ‘God’s weakness is stronger, God’s foolishness wiser, than anything we can do.’

Let us bring our sicknesses to Jesus, lay them at his feet, trust in his mercy and power, allow him to carry us to safety and peace.

Our hands too are ‘withered,’ unable to accomplish our good desires.  Try as we might, the good we want to do falls short, our efforts are fruitless – until we are touched by Jesus’ glance, his saving touch.

Lord Jesus, make our hands, our minds and hearts, beautiful for you, strong and healthy in doing your work. Help us to see, to understand, to do your will always, not shrinking back, not counting the cost.

Our minds are small, narrow.  We think by division: left is not right, right is not wrong, top is not bottom.  We understand by making comparisons: this is not that.  We separate; we dichotomize.  It takes great effort to encompass the whole.

The mystery of the Incarnation puts everything back together again.  God became human so that we humans could realize the spark of divinity within ourselves. “We are as gods,” we read.    There is no difference between sacred and profane once God is present to our world. We are not Jew or Greek, male or female, as St Paul reminds us. Or rather, more exactly, the differences remain; we do not confuse the two. Instead, we make them one  by finding all things in God.  We need only open our eyes to see his beauty everywhere.

On our part, God’s name – the name of Jesus – is to be honored among us. We are to praise and glorify his name; teach and proclaim his name, do everything in his name. When we gather we gather in his name. And, on occasion, we may have to suffer for his name.

In the end, God’s name – the name of Jesus – his person – as well as our own new name will be emblazoned on our forehead. We will be recognized as his because we bear his name. What glory will be ours in that day.

The secret is that God is closer to us than we are to ourselves. We live and move and have our being in him. Our task is to allow this presence to come to light; it must pervade our every thought; our thoughts must be expressed in the way we act. What animates us within must must come to light without. Everyone should see how kind we are.

Kind because God’s presence – present in everyone, everything – draws forth that kindness. Heart speaks to heart. God within me seeks and finds and recognizes God’s presence all around me, in every person I encounter, in all times and circumstances. O God, reveal yourself to us, present in every creature.

It is true. We are that Divine Child. God is nowhere if not within us. He is closer to us than we are to ourselves. And we read, ‘you are gods.’ Yes, we are called to divinity. God became human that we may recognize the divinity within our own souls; that we might become divine, sharers in the divine nature.

The same is true of many other incidents recorded in the Gospels. For example, there are at least two occasions where Jesus directs the disciples from the shore to throw their nets for a catch of fish; they see the fish and confess their Lord.  The same is true of Thomas – Jesus appears before him and he cries out, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Elizabeth sees Mary and recognizes the Lord within her womb.

For ourselves, at Christmas, we see a manger scene and swaddling bands and a young couple with their new-born but we believe that this is our God in human flesh come to dwell among us.

“Presence” – we want to be present to one another, fully present, fully alive, fully listening. We want the Lord to be present among us, guiding us, leading us, showing us the way. We want to be present, awakened, to the grace of each passing moment  – the only moment we have.

“Presence” – grace / gifts / presents – a play on words. Each moment a gift, an opportunity for grace, allowing no ray of God’s bounty to fall unnoticed or unused; a resting in the gaze of God’s love upon us. We search but it is God who finds.

“Presence” – as ‘gift’ for which we say ‘Thank you’.  ‘Thank you’ – the most fitting response , the most perfect act of worship and praise, a surrender of all we have and are into the loving arms of God.

Christmas – God’s coming as a baby reveals the truth about God as well: the magnificence and power of the Creator of the Universe displayed in the simplicity and poverty of the stable. He does not overpower, he is not overbearing or demanding; he does not threaten. He comes as promise of new beginnings, as seed of the future. He comes as a child to win our trust, disarm our defenses, gain our love.

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. Eternal is his sway. Amen. Alleluia.