Saint Andrew Events

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told the birth of Jesus took place to fulfill the promise God had made to God’s people – that God would be with them. The promise was expressed in the Hebrew word Emmanuel which literally means “God with us.”

The promise was first made when the people of Judah were conquered by the Babylonians and taken into captivity. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to remind the people that they were not alone. In spite of all they had lost – their homeland and their freedom – they were not alone. God was with them. And so they persevered. They survived until they were eventually able to return to their homeland.

Centuries later they were conquered again, this time by Rome. And this time at the birth of Jesus, they were reminded that God was still with them. And so the faith of God’s people continued through the ministry of Jesus, far out-lasting the Roman Empire.

This idea of Emmanuel is central to our faith. We are never left alone to face a cold, impersonal universe. There is always love surrounding us. The presence of God is a promise of community in all times and all places.

And so, as we attempt to live our faith, we do our best to never leave people alone in times of need. Recently I joined several churches on a work trip to Guatemala to install solar power in homes that had been cut off from the local electrical grid. Our community reached out to help that community simply because we believe people ought to work together. We should never be left alone in times of need.

Because of God’s love, we are all a part of an inescapable, universal community. We are here to help one another. That is a foundational part of our identity. If you know of someone who could use your help, or even just your presence, reach out. And if you need someone, ask for help. We were created to support one another. We are at our best in community.