O Emmanuel

December 23rd is the last of the O Antiphons. As I mentioned ealier the O Antiphons are the verses to the song: O come, O come Emmanuel, which we have been singing for the past 4 weeks of Advent. In our song book the first verse and the last verse are based on the title emmanuel. Here is the Old Testament passage we get this title from:


"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel." Isaiah 7:14

The title 'Emmanuel' means: "God is with us". That is exactly what we celebrate at Christmas. Christmas is not about gifts, or being friendly, or accepting others, or all the other sentimental things that the latest Christmas Special celebrates. Christmas is about the INCARNATION of God. The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. God becoming Human so that humans can become God. Now isn't a radical statement. That is Christmas. Here is the Liturgical antiphon for Dec. 23:

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.


Peace