The Fourth Sunday in Advent AD 2025

“The Lord is at hand.” This is an interesting, somewhat archaic expression, which in some other translations reads “The Lord is nigh” or “The Lord is near.” The Greek word used here, ἐγγύς, is quite close to the expression “at hand” and literally means either “on the palm of your hand” or “at the elbow. “

In both cases, it is a rather dynamic image. We can vividly imagine how something is on the palm of our hand, how we hold it up to our eyes and let others see it: look, here it is! Right here, not even within reach, but in our hands, as close to us as possible. Or when someone is right next to us: we only need to move our elbow slightly and we feel them against us. It is an experience that gives rise to a wonderful sense of security and peace.

“The Lord is at hand.” Of course, He is not “at hand” so that we can use Him. And He is not at our side as someone we can occasionally use for help when we can no longer do it ourselves. The fact that the Lord is at hand actually means that our entire life is in His hands. From Him comes everything we are and everything we need to live.

This means that we do not need to fear or worry: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” This is the central message of Christmas: God cares for us and provides for us, so we need not fear. God loves us and is at hand, so we can always rejoice. For “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”