“God is with us”

As we approach the last Sunday of Advent before Christmas this coming weekend, the readings very specifically begin to focus on the human realities of Jesus' life. We hear from the Prophet Isaiah the story where Jesus is foretold, with Isaiah prophesying, "the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel." And in the Letter to the Romans we hear St. Paul say, "descended from David according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power..."

These all point to Jesus' being a descendent of David and, therefore, his royal bloodline. This fulfillment of prophesy was important to the Jewish people, who were expecting the Messiah to come from this family. And when the angel appears to Joseph in the Gospel reading we hear the angel say, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home." But the most important part of this story could be said to be what is added by the author of the Gospel of Matthew when, after quoting the Prophet Isaiah about naming him Emmanuel, he hits home what exactly that means by saying, "which means 'God is with us.'"

During these last few days of Advent, let us not forget what it is we are about to celebrate: God so loved the world that, in the fullness of time, God sent his Son to be "God with us," becoming like us in all things but sin. By Jesus' human life we are both shown "the way, the truth, and the life" by his actions and teachings and set free by him who "made peace through the blood of his cross." And it all begins in Bethlehem, the City of David, not in a royal palace but in the humble poverty of a stable. 

Let us pray that we may seek to humbly go about being "God with us" in our own ways this Christmas, like Christ walking the earth again, by our loving deeds and sacrifices made for the good of others.

Want to prepare your heart and mind for Mass this weekend? Click here to find the readings this Sunday's Mass.