accepted

Tuesday December 24^th, Matthew 1:  But after he had considered this, Peace came over him when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." In Matthew the actors are primarily male.  Joseph is the one who hears of the impending birth of the Christ child.  This is the day when those who seldom go to church, show up for the Candle Light Worship service and hear at least once a year, the good news.  This day we celebrate that new thing that God did, and continues to do, in the world.  This day we celebrate the presence of God in each and every person as well as our call to treat one another in that new light.  When Joseph accepted that what Mary was with was because of the Holy Spirit, he experienced that something new called peace.  We too can begin to experience that same Peace that comes from God when we accept the presence of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit, in each and every person in this creation that God created and called good.  This Christmas, may you discover anew the presence of Immanuel in your life and may you be given the double blessing of peace that comes with acknowledging the presence of God in all who inhabit this creation God has called good.