Love Made Near | Monday Invocation

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

Matthew 1:23 NRSVUE

As we move into the fourth week of Advent, we arrive at love - not as sentimentality or perfection, but as presence. Advent love shows up in vulnerability, in courage, and in the quiet moments that change everything.

In the Gospel of Matthew’s (1:18-25) telling of the story, love does not arrive with certainty or clarity. It arrives through trust, confusion, fear, and the brave decision to stay. Joseph chooses love when walking away might have been easier. Mary embodies love by carrying hope into a world not ready for it. Emmanuel, God-with-us, is love choosing nearness over distance.

This week, we are invited to notice where love is already near: in our bodies, our communities, our longings, and our resistance. For those of us carrying spiritual wounds, love may feel tender or complicated. Advent reminds us that love does not demand readiness - it meets us exactly where we are.

What does “love made near” look like in your body, your relationships, or your daily rhythms this week?