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EMMANUEL, WHICH MEANS, GOD WITH US

(A biblical refection on the FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year A] – 22 December 2013)

Gospel Reading: Mafthew 1:18-24

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalms: Ps 24:1-6; Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7

The Scripture Text

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife. (Matthew 1:18-24 RSV).

Advent is something like a four-act play. It began in 700 B.C. with the prophet Isaiah announcing the coming of the Messiah; then followed the prophesies through the intervening centuries; then the birth of John the Baptist. Now today we meet Mary and Joseph, and learn the Child had been conceived.

Here we are presented with the reluctance of Joseph to accept Mary as his wife. He is not only hesitant but seemingly fearful. Why? Various reasons are given. Some think that he questioned her virtue and wondered if the Child truly was conceived by the Holy Spirit, as she said, or by some other man. Another opinion is that Joseph did not doubt her, but was simply confused. A third view is that he accepted her honesty and believed that the Child was conceived by the Holy Spirit – but, being a humble and unassuming man, wanted to disassociate himself from her out of deep awe and reverence. Whatever the situation, the angel’s message in the dream confirmed Mary’s story and persuaded Joseph to take her as his wife.

Thus the scene was set for the birth of the Messiah, and Jesus was provided with two sensitive and holy people to raise Him to manhood.

Advent, especially from the 17^th of December onward, is the Church’s way to help us prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Although Christ came long ago, we can always deepen our appreciation of His impressive entry into our history. When we envision the world without His teachings, we can be thankful for our Christian heritage.

With our many customs for pre-Christmas season, we should be careful not to overlook the essential elements. We can have Christmas without the snow, presents, a festival meal or midnight Mass; but there would be no real Christmas without genuine love in our lives and the sharing of it with others.

The fourth candle now burns on the Advent wreath, our churches and homes are decorated, the presents for our loved ones are being wrapped and the children whisper their requests in Santa’s ear.

We all would do well to whisper a prayer to the Savior for His eternal friendship and the precious gift of salvation which He has freely given and continues to give each day.

A Christian Pilgrim

TWO NAMES

(A biblical refection on the FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year A] – 22 December 2013)

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalms: Psalm 24:1-6; Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7; Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:18-24

Advent spirituality is most relevant to the world of today when so many people are experiencing a winter of the spirit and a wilderness where terrifying demons stalk the land. Advent spirituality hears the call of the Baptist to recognize that the source of our modern evils is sin. Advent spirituality encourages us to wait in hope and not to lose faith.

And in today’s Mass the spirituality of Advent reaches a climax of hope. The victory over sin has already been won. Matthew brings us the story behind two names, Jesus and Emmanuel.

Jesus means God-is-salvation. The Holy Spirit has begun to invade the world and the child in Mary’s womb will be the one to save His people from their sins.

Emmanuel is a name which says God-is-with-us. Centuries before, when Isaiah confronted the wavering king, Ahaz, the name Emmanuel was a sign that God was with His people and there was no need to enter into alliance with pagan powers.

Now Matthew brings up the name again. This is the first of many instances where he takes an Old Testament text to show how Jesus was the answer to Jewish expectations. And this belief that God is with us is so important to Matthew that he will close his Gospel on that same theme: Jesus, about to ascend to the Father, promises to be with the disciples always, yes, to the end of time.

By bringing the two names Jesus and Emmanuel together in one event, Matthew expresses a gigantic step forward in human history from the age of sin to the presence of God’s power on earth.

Yet here in Advent’s desert starkness we know all too well how strong is the hold of sin upon us still: how brutish and destructive are the effects of sin upon society.

But we are invited to step forward in faith. Faith believes that in Jesus the victory over sin has been won. The Holy Spirit has invaded the world in a powerful advance against the enemy. The child in Mary’s womb is Jesus, whose precious name proclaims that God can save from sin. All we have to do is lay claim to the victory already won: to come forward to receive the prize.

And we can rejoice even in the wilderness of sin for the power of the Spirit in Jesus is greater than sin. This is what we celebrate in Advent’s sacrament of reconciliation.

Note: Taken from Silvester O’Flynn OFMCap., THE GOOD NEWS OF MATTHEW’S YEAR, Dublin, Ireland: Cathedral Books/The Columba Press, 1992 Reprenting, page 23.