The words, “I am a stranger on earth” from Psalm 119:19 can be interpreted to refer to God; according to Abraham Joshua Heschel from God in Search of Man.
God is a stranger in the world. The Shechinah, the presence of God is in exile. Our task is to bring God who created back into the world, into our lives. God has been celebrated as King, even in the person of the young child Jesus, and it just might be ok to ask, “Do you know him?”
In the places of misery and callousness and defiance, we are called to recognize the presence needs to be known in the places where it does not seem to be, and to help change those situations in ways that make God’s presence and love known by how we example it. The angels shared the Good News to the shepherds, and they responded by going to see and worshiping what they found in that manger, a Savior. That response needs to be continually shared again by us in all the places we can appreciate the need.
It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it:
You spread his love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.
Wonderful God, help us become your sparks for the fire. Enable us, with your Spirit, to go where your presence needs to be known, and bring your people
home. With childlike faith in your Son Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Pastor David Brosnan