O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Another of Isaiah’s prophecies:
“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)
Christmas Eve is almost here and with it comes the birth of our Saviour. Emmanuel means ‘God is with us’. A simple phrase but a deeply significant meaning. The coming of Jesus to live a human life means that we are no longer alone. God as the Christ-child means that he shares in every human emotion and situation. One of our favourite carols has the line:
‘He was little, weak and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew…’
(Once in royal David’s city, Cecil Frances Alexander)
In another carol we sing:
‘Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.’
(Hark! the herald angels sing, Charles Wesley)
Emmanuel. God is with us, and for us, now and always.
Alleluia!
