Tuesday, December 23 – “O Emmanuel, God with Us”

Scripture

“Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors

and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with

her. … All who heard them pondered and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For

indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.” Luke 1:57-66

Reflection

The final O Antiphon resounds with longing fulfilled: “O Emmanuel, our King and

Lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God.”

Emmanuel means God with us. From the burning bush to the tabernacle of Israel,

from the prophets’ promise to the Virgin’s womb, all of salvation history has been moving

toward this one reality, that God would dwell with His people. The Lord who seemed

distant and hidden now draws near, not in majesty but in mercy, not in thunder but in

tenderness.

The birth of John the Baptist in today’s Gospel signals that the dawn is moments

away. The long silence is ending. The child whose name means “The Lord is gracious”

prepares the way for the One who is grace itself. Joy begins to break into the world, and

everyone who hears of it “ponders” the mystery. This pondering is the right posture for the

final days of Advent, hearts quieted, ready, reverent.

As members of the EOHSJ, the mystery of Emmanuel takes on a tangible form in

your mission. “God with us” is not only a truth to be believed, but a presence to be

safeguarded, especially in the Holy Land, where the Word became flesh and dwelt among

us. Through your prayer, charity, and solidarity with those of that land, you help to ensure

that the presence of Christ continues to shine from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

As Advent draws to its close, the cry of the Church becomes a whisper of love:

Come, Lord Jesus. The waiting is nearly over; the promise nearly fulfilled. The God who

once seemed far off is already here, in the Eucharist, in the poor, in our hearts. Emmanuel

is not merely coming; He is already with us.

Prayer

O Emmanuel, God-with-us, come and dwell in our hearts. Fill our darkness with

Your light, our fear with Your peace, our longing with Your presence. Stay with us, Lord,

and make us signs of Your love in the world. Amen.

Meditation Question

How is God already “with me” in the ordinary circumstances of my life? What

concrete way can I make His presence known to others this Christmas?