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Dear San Marco Church Family: I have a challenge for you! This week, sometime before Sunday, read the second chapter of the New Testament book of Philippians. That chapter contains what is often referred to as the “Christological hymn” in verses 1-11. The purpose of the passage is to communicate the importance of Jesus becoming fully human in order to redeem humanity. Essentially, the chapter explains that God chose to condescend to us human beings in order to model the way to a holy life. God became one of us in order to understand us and to offer us salvation. Are you wondering why this is part of our Advent series? As we marinade in the expectation of the coming of Jesus, it is important to think about what Jesus saw upon entering our human world. He saw our strife, our loneliness, and our yearning for love. In “The Christmas Letters” Pastor Magrey DeVega explains it this way, speaking of what Jesus saw, “He saw the battles you lose every day against your sins and weaknesses. He saw the pain of your broken relationships. He saw your separation from God, your deep-down doubts, and the way you feel lost in your life. He saw your longing for acceptance, and he saw your misery in a world that seems so twisted and full of suffering.” The coming of Jesus brings us the news that the God who created us truly understands us, and is able to empathize with our struggles. If we go through the Advent and Christmas season without getting this truth, then we are missing the point. As one of the early church fathers taught, God can only heal that which God has assumed. The great news is that because God became fully human as Jesus, God offers healing and hope for every human weakness and vulnerability. There is simply no human pain that God does not understand. Because God understands, God is able to offer healing and redemption to all of humanity. All we need is the humility and trust to seek Christ in all aspects of our lives. Please take the time to pray for our church and community this week. Pray for our worship team at San Marco church. I depend upon your prayers as I prepare messages, and I know our team appreciates your prayers and encouragement. Finally, if you enjoy worshipping at San Marco church, invite a friend to attend in-person or online this week. Just as we like to share our enthusiasm for a new store or restaurant, it is even more important that we share with others our love for our church. You just might be the messenger a friend needs to embrace the meaning of Christmas this year. I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Steve Hart
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