“O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.”
“God with us.” That is what the angel instructed Mary to name her child: Emmanuel. That name literally means, “God with us”. And thus, our story began.
Mary was a humble handmaid of God. She never saw herself as important. She was just a simple girl praying for the deliverance of her people as any faithful Israelite would do. When the Angel Gabriel came to her, she was frightened and confused. But, she knew one thing. She knew that she was the handmaid of God. She may not have understood what God was asking; but, if God wanted her to do something, she was willing to do it.
We have come through the Advent season to this place: the day before Christmas eve. We reflect upon the promised Son of Mary, the one she was to call Emmanuel, God with us.
God is with us. He abides in our souls. He abides in our hearts. He abides in our lives. He dwells in the lives of those around us. He beckons us to respond to Him so that we could make our way home at the end of our days.
We, like Mary, need to be able to say “Yes” to God’s will. Are we God’s humble servants? If we have done our Advent work properly, the answer should come to us easily and quickly.
We are your servants, Lord. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
FAITH ACTION: Reflect upon the verses of the classic Advent Hymn which incorporates the “O Antiphons”.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.