Sacred Doing: Reflecting the Sacred
Scripture: Isaiah 52:7–10; Matthew 2:13–23 (CEB)

In this Christmas sermon from our series Reflecting the Sacred, we turn to Sacred Doing—the call to embody God’s presence through acts of justice, mercy, and solidarity in a suffering world. Drawing from Isaiah’s vision of beautiful feet that carry good news and Matthew’s account of the Holy Family fleeing violence and fear, Pastor Christina Hart-Perkins invites us to consider what faith looks like when it must move, risk, and respond.

Jesus’ life begins not in safety or certainty, but in displacement. Forced to flee as a child refugee, Jesus is formed in solidarity with the vulnerable, the grieving, and the displaced. His story confronts us with the reality that fear still breeds violence, that suffering persists even in holy seasons—and yet, God continues to break through with comfort, redemption, and hope.

This sermon reminds us that God does not stand apart from human suffering but enters fully into it. Sacred doing is not about grand solutions or easy answers; it is often as simple—and as costly—as showing up, bearing witness, and refusing to let evil have the final word. We are called to be the messengers Isaiah describes: people whose lives carry good news, whose steps lead toward peace, and whose presence reflects the sacred even in the hardest places.

🌀 Reflection Questions:

1. Jesus begins life as a vulnerable child who must flee for safety. How does this shape the way you see vulnerable people today?
2. What might “sacred doing” look like in response to fear, injustice, or suffering today?
3. What does it mean for us to dedicate ourselves to reflecting the sacred in all we do?

✨ Listen as we reflect on fear and faith, suffering and solidarity, and the invitation to become God’s agents of grace, peace, and healing in the world.

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