Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25 NRSVUE

Sa Isang progressive church na intentionally mulat sa mga katarantafudahan ng bayan at mg Mundo, we are always confronted with the hardest question pag pasko and then later pag pasko ng pagkabukay… Is there something to celebrate sa kashitan na ito?

But we are reminded na Hindi porket maraming kashitan, Tayo ay magpapatalo at magpapalugmok sa mga tae ng kasalukuyang kaganapan.

Advent reminds is that there is always hope and our hope is based on the action of God throughout history. Kaya mahalagang mag-alam natin ang history because it proves to us thay things do get better eventually. Advent reminds that our peace does not come from the kings and emperors of this world but from the king of heaven who chooses to lower himself and become human, poor, a servant, and someone willing to die. Ang kapayapaan ay nagmumula sa kanya at ipinakita rin nya sa kanyang naging buhay paano natin maaachive Ang kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng paglilingkod sa isat isa.
Advent reminds us that there is joy and we must actively pursue joy. Mariz reminds us that Joy is rooted in grace and growing from the soil of ministry and Advocacy. Joy through ministry and Advocacy is our act of resistance against sa kashitan ng Mundo and it is a gift of God through community and shared work.

Lastly, today, last Sunday of Advent, we are reminded in all of this it is always about love from love and towards love. Love that is not abstract but love na bodily – nagkakatawan – and intimately relational. Pag-ibig na gustong makipag ugnayan, nakikipag-kapwa, at nais yumakap at humipo. Eto any pag-ibig na Ang pangalan ay Emmanuel – God with us. God through us. Sa lahat ng paalalang ito ay kung paano Tayo nag-ambag at nagparticipate sa Open table, merong dapat ipagdiwang ngayong pasko at sa pagtatapos ng taon. Merong pag-asang masayang inaabangan para sa darating na taon in the face of all the shittiness now and will also continue to come.

Mary and Joseph as Immanuel

Sa last Sunday of Advent and our last worship of the year magandang paalala ang ating scripture reading tungkol sa pagkakatawang tao no Hesus ayon sa gospel of Matthew. Ang buong gospel of Matthew ay tungkol sa presensya ng Diyos na kasa-kasama natin. Yan Ang main theological frame and linchpin of the gospel of matthew. It reminds us that Jesus is Immanuel – the living presence of God among us… But I want us to also look at this story a little differently. I want us to also realize that in the Story the presence of God to the Son of God was also Mary who chose and decided to conceive Jesus and give birth to him. She didn’t have to. She could say No especially when it will most likely get her into trouble and danger. But she said yes to the danger and to the physical struggle and pain of child bearing and child birth. Joseph also embodied Immanuel – God’s presence towards Mary and Jesus – when he decided to continue his marriage with Mary and not have her stoned to death for adultery. Despite his own internal struggle, shame, and pain, he accepted Mary and her pregnancy. She believed his dream when he does not have to. Unlike Kay Mary na Meron talagang nagpakitang anghel, so Joseph, nananiginip lang. Ano bang Malay nya kung lerler lang sya Ang under a lot of stress that caused that dream. Baka gusto nya lang paniwalain Ang sarili nya. But he kept faith and did not have Mary put to death. Or kahit Hindi na nga put to death, Sabi sa gospel, he just wanted to divorse her in secret para Hindi na mapahamak so Mary. But even with that, paano na lang si Maria bilang deborsyadang batang ina? Hindi man sya ma stone to death, how will she survive as a young mother divorced so young? She was poor and from a poor family herself. Peasante. So when Joseph decided to keep Mary as his wife and believe a dream, and be a father to Jesus, he was Immanuel to them.

Pero Hindi lang si Mary and Joseph ant Immanuel Kay Jesus. Later the wise men who gave them resources to help them start over and who also decided not to go back to herod. Then sino-sino pa kaya any mga kapamilya, kapit-bahay, at mga kaibigan ni Maria at Jose na naging Immanuel sa kanilang pamilya at Kay Hesus?

We are Immanuel to Jesus in our midst

Our advent story and indeed Christmas tells us not only God’s presence in and through Jesus but God’s presence in and through Each one of us for each other lalong-lalo na sa kashitan na nararanasan ng isa’t Isa at ng ating kapwa. Not only that Jesus is God’s presence to us. But it is also how we are God’s presence to Jesus who is among us.

After all Sabi nga ni Jesus rin whatever good you have done for the least of this, you have done for me. Sabi rin ni Paul that Christ lives in and through us. Paano Tayo Immanuel din para Kay Hesus sa mga naghihirap ay nagdudusa sa ating paligid. Paanong Yung mga nasa paligid natin ay naging Immanuel para sa atin sa mga oras na Tayo ay nahihirapan, nag-iisa, nasasaktan, at nalulungkot. Paanong Tayo bilang open table, – community and a body – paanong Tayo rin ay katawan ni Kristo and presence ni God for our queer siblings and straight allies? Paanong Ang ating straight allies are God’s presence to our community of Open Table MCC?

Reflection questions:

As we end 2025… Let us reflect and look back. Tayo ay magmuni-muni Sinu-sino Ang naging Maria, Joseph, at Hesus sa iyong buhay nitong 2025? Who were the people who cared for you and were there for you in those moments of difficulty, pain, or loneliness? Who are those who took the time para kumustahin ka at makinig sayo? Sino any mga taong naging buhay na katugunan sa mga panalangin mo this 2025? Where the persons who became your answered prayers? Who were those who cared for you if and when you got sick? Ako sa akin buhay at bilang pastor, syempre pagoda mirasol Ako every Sunday or some days and ang immanuel para sa akin ay si Lawrence pag minamasahe nya Ako after Sunday or after one lagare day. Siya rin ay nakikinig sa akin sa mga hanash ko sa inyo at mga kunsumisyon. Pero malaking Immanuel din sa akin this year so Jaetee, Rix, at mother Sean sa mga bagay na need ng pastoral care. Malaking bagay sa akin Ang iilang sa Inyo na nakakaalala, nanganganusta, at minsan may pa ayuda. Pero kahit Hindi, Yung simpleng pag gampan sa mga ministry ninyo ay isang malaking presence of God para sa akin bilamg pastor nyo. Salamat. Sa Inyo? Sino ang mga naging Immanuel sa buhay nyo this 2025?

Paano naging immanuel any open table sa buhay nyo this year? Whether you are here for a long time or bago la lang… How does open table continue to be God’s living presence in your life and spirituality?
Reflectik. 2. Paano Naman kayo naging immanuel sa kapwa nyo this 2025? In what ways have you embodied Jesus nitong 2025? Sino Ang nilapitan mo para kausapin, kumustahin, at pakinggan kahit na inconvenient? Was there a time and a person you went out of your way to give your time and attention even?

Meron rin bang mga times that you were less of a presence of God to someone or might even be the opposite nitong 2025? How have you repented as per Ardy’s preaching? How have you changed?
Last reflection as reminded by our gospel today and this preaching, how can you continue to be Immanuel for 2026? Paano kayo patuloy na magiging aktibont presensya ng Diyos sa darating na taon sa community na ito, sa inyong mga kapamilya at kaibigan, at sa iba pang higit na nangangailangan? Kahit matatapos Ang year of grace s...