Emmanuel…the Hebrew word that literally means “God-with-us” is something that we hear throughout the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas. The ancient 5th century hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, properly an Advent hymn, expresses the longing of the people of God, both of the Old and New Testaments, for the coming of the promised Savior. This name Emmanuel is in the book of the prophet Isaiah and in the Gospel according to St. Matthew where he quotes the prophet Isaiah,[i] signifying that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God-with-us.”[ii]
In the person of Jesus Christ, this prayer has both been answered and is being answered, for the Word became Flesh. In the Incarnation, God would reveal Himself as never before. He literally became God-with-us, taking on our nature and redeeming us. Even now He comes and is present with us and will be with us until the end. He comes in a particular way as our source of grace and sustenance. In His Eucharistic presence, He gives Himself completely to sustain us and give us life that we may grow more and more like him.
Rev. Fr. Paul Werley
Jesus dwells until the end of the ages in the tabernacle of the Church’s faith
In this Advent refection from Blessed Isaac of Stella, he shares his interpretation of the meaning of God-with-us:
In a way, every Christian is also believed to be a bride of God’s Word, a mother of Christ, his daughter and sister, at once virginal and fruitful. These words are used in a universal sense of the Church, in a special sense of Mary, in a particular sense of the individual Christian. They are used by God’s Wisdom in person, the Word of the Father.
I will dwell in the inheritance of the Lord
This is why Scripture says: I will dwell in the inheritance of the Lord. The Lord’s inheritance is, in a general sense, the Church; in a special sense, Mary; in an individual sense, the Christian.
Christians as living tabernacles of the Lord:
Christ dwelt for nine months in the tabernacle of Mary’s womb. He dwells until the end of the ages in the tabernacle of the Church’s faith. He will dwell for ever in the knowledge and love of each faithful soul.[iii]
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Eucharistic Procession. Nativity of the Lord Parish at Alma College 11/28/2023.
[i] “Isaiah 7:14 – The Sign of Immanuel (ERV).” Bible Hub. Accessed December 16, 2023. https://biblehub.com/isaiah/7-14.htm.
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
[ii] “Matthew 1:23 RSV.” Matthew 1:23 parallel: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, god with us. Accessed December 16, 2023. https://biblehub.com/parallel/matthew/1-23.htm.
[iii] Blessed Isaac, of Stella. “Mary and the Church.” Advent Week 2 Saturday – Office of Readings. Accessed December 16, 2023. https://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/loh/advent/week2saturdayor.htm. (Sermo 51: PL 194, 1862-1865)
Posted December 17, 2023
Advent 2023
