Welcome to Resurrection Parish as we begin a new liturgical year. We actually got a little bit of a jump on things by starting our Advent message series, “Unwrapping Christmas,” last weekend. This series is going to look at how we can embrace the spirit of giving even more this Christmas season.
   We noted that God is a very generous giver. In fact, everything that we have is a gift from God. Christmas is a time when we celebrate God’s greatest gift to us, “For God so loved the world he gave his only beloved son” (John 3:16). Of course we are talking about Jesus, who’s birth we celebrate on Christmas. And Jesus gave his life on the cross for us, so that we might have eternal life. Since God is a generous giver, to grow as followers of Christ means growing in giving. If you are becoming more like Christ, then you are becoming more generous as he is generous.
   Giving can take so many different forms, and today we are going to talk about a type of giving that we often overlook. Today, we want to look at giving the gift of presence.
One of the most frequent promises God makes to his people and to the heroes of the Bible is, “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). The story of the Bible isn’t about humanity’s search for God. It’s about God’s desire to be with his people, and unfortunately, his people’s sometimes lack of desire to do the same.
   To dig down into this topic we’re going to look at a passage from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus. Isaiah wrote his book to remind Israel of the special relationship they had with God.
   The passage we are looking at today is a prophecy. He predicts correctly that Jerusalem would be overrun by enemies who would send the people of Judah into exile, and when this happened, the people would finally recognize their need for God’s presence. We read part of the prayer today. Isaiah writes: “You, Lord are our father, our redeemer you are named forever” (Isaiah 63:16b).
   Isaiah recognizes this special relationship between God and the people of Israel. God is both father and redeemer. He gives life and he redeems it, he forms his people and saves them. He saves them from their enemies, their past, their faults, their failures, and their sins.
   Isaiah continues, “Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?” (Isaiah 63:19).
   Isaiah is acknowledging the obtuse and foolish attitude people often adapt toward God. Isaiah is acknowledging the problem of free will. Free will is the ability to choose different possible courses of action. God allows us to wander from him. He allows us to harden our hearts toward him to become indifferent to his presence.
   Often we do not invite God’s presence into our lives when we make a decision, but then we blame God for not keeping us from the consequences of our decisions. God respects our free will. If we invite him into our lives, he will be with us and he will share with us his wisdom. If we don’t, he won’t.
   Then Isaiah gets to the crux of the problem. He writes: “Too long we have been like those you do not rule on whom your name is not invoked” (Isaiah 63:19a). Isaiah recognizes that all the problems of the nation, basically comes down to this: for all intensive purposes they have acted like practical atheists, like people who do not know God. This becomes a self-fulfilling process in which their perception of God’s presence becomes darker and darker.
   Did you ever notice that when you sin against someone, you’re uncomfortable with their presence? This is what it is like with God. When we operate without him, or work against him, we are uncomfortable with him: the Church, religion, the whole thing.
   Maybe that’s where you are right now. You realize that your life has gone off track because you have tried to live apart from him. If that’s where you are, congratulations! In recognizing your need for God, you might be primed for a breakthrough. It is unfortunate that we do not recognize our need for God’s presence until we have problems. That’s the bad news. The good news is that God loves us enough that he will never deny us his presence.
   This is where the Israelites are. And so Isaiah prays: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down with the mountains quaking before you” (Isaiah 63:19). Isaiah cries out to God to make his presence known to come and be with his people.
Christmas is the partial fulfillment of this prayer. At Christmas God ripped open the heavens and sent his Son into the world. But he did so quietly, silently. Nearly no one noticed. I say Christmas is the partial fulfillment, because it is not until the end of Jesus’ life after Jesus died on the cross, that it is completely fulfilled.
   Today begins a favored season of the year, the season of Advent; a time designated by the Church for preparation for the Feast of Christmas. But also a season of anticipation and celebration as we remember what God has done, and what he will do, in our lives, and in the life of the world. Advent reminds us that God gave the gift of his presence. Each time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we remember and receive that presence.
   Our first job as Christ followers is to accept and appreciate the gift of God’s presence. Our second job is to do the same. Give the gift of presence.
   Your presence is a significant gift in at least three ways. Your presence reveals your values. When you are making decisions about your commitments this Christmas, ask “Who will most value my presence?” There are people who value your presence and those who don’t. Give the gift of your presence first of all to people who will value it.
Your presence demonstrates support. Look to give the gift of your presence when people need your support the most, especially when facing a challenge or difficulty. Maybe you know people this Christmas who will be going through a tough time because it is the first one they will face after the loss of a loved one family. Support them with the gift of your presence.
   Your presence relieves loneliness. Who is someone you know who is alone or perhaps even lonely this Christmas. Can you take time to make time for them?
Our presence is perhaps the best gift we can give. And, it is one that only we can give. Since you can only be in one place at one time it’s a “one at a time” kind of gift.