jim henson

Sunday's first reading is from the seventh chapter of Isaiah when he prophesies about the coming of Christ.

The Lord himself, therefore,
will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child
and will soon give birth to a son
whom she will call Immanuel,
a name which means “God-is-with-us."

I was struck, when I read it, with the everyday-ness of the text. The sign from Heaven is a maiden giving birth to a son--a common occurrence every day.

Isaiah says His name will be Immanuel, meaning God is with us.

Jesus proclaimed that The Kingdom of God is within you--the Kingdom of God is at hand. This is the message of the Messiah. No more waiting. No more striving after things that do not satisfy.

Jesus was born of a simple maiden in a feeding trough. He is our food. That is the Good News.

God is with us.