Isaiah 7:10-14
Poor Ahaz! He sits on the throne of King David and
holds onto the northern kingdom in a time of great upheaval across
the region. His enemies in Assyria and in Israel want to destroy him and
his reign. God sends Isaiah the prophet to assure him that he
will not fall but that his enemies will be destroyed. Just before the
passage in today’s reading, the Lord reminds Ahaz through Isaiah, “Unless
your faith is firm, you shall not be firm!”
It’s not always easy
to be firm in faith, to be confident that when we choose a path that
it’s the “right” one, that we will be able to see it through or become a
better person by choosing wisely. Sometimes a lot is riding on the
choices we make for ourselves or others and we really want a sign from
God that things will be well, that we are moving in the right direction.
Yet, we can often be afraid to ask for that sign, afraid to “tempt
God”. But God wants to hear from us, wants us to be bold in asking and
patient in waiting for those signs. As Christmas approaches, we recall
the great sign of Jesus’ birth – Emmanuel - God with us, always. Might
this be the sign we accept today?
Rev. Michael Callaghan, c.o.
Pastor
The Oratory Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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