God is with us
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Lectionary: 10
The prophet says “his name shall be Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” The angel says “his name shall be Jesus”, or Yehoshua, which means “God is Salvation,” or, “God Saves.”
Why does the angel tell Saint Joseph to name the child Jesus, if the prophecy is that they will call him Emmanuel?
It is because, as Tertullian writes, they are the same in sense, even if they are different in sound. Having God with us is the same as having our savior with us, because only God can be our savior. It does not matter if we say his name is “God is with us” or “God Saves” or “God is Salvation” – they are the same.
Matthew’s Gospel begins here by telling us our salvation is that “God is with us.” His Gospel ends the same way. There on the mountain, after the resurrection, Jesus tells his disciples, “I am with you always.” When it is all said and done, from the beginning to the end, this is the Gospel. God is with us. Always. This is both joy, and a challenge.
God does not stay far away, deeper than the netherworld or higher than the sky – God is with us.
When the situation is as impossible as a virgin bearing a son
– God is with us.
When we, like Mary, are facing judgment and condemnation
– God is with us.
When we are facing a very difficult decision, like Joseph
– God is with us.
When we make the wrong decision for the right reasons, as when Joseph decided to divorce Mary
– God is with us.
When we are afraid, like Joseph
– God is with us.
When we, like Joseph, receive a command from the Lord
– God is with us.
When we need to be saved from our sins
– God is with us.
This good news of the gospel is also a responsibility. Wherever we go, and whatever we do, God is with us. We bring the Christ child with us everywhere.
When we walk out the doors after mass
– God is with us.
When we talk to or about family, friends, or even our enemies
– God is with us.
When we go to work or to school
– God is with us.
When we consume books, movies, and other entertainment
– God is with us.
When we surf the internet
– God is with us.
When we ignore someone who needs our help
– God is with us.
When we gossip or complain
– God is with us.
When we are alone with our thoughts
– God is with us.
In one sense, it is like we carry baby Jesus with us everywhere we go. Thinking of it this way can help us to make better decisions. It can help us to avoid evil, and to choose good.
But it is even more. The Christ child is not only with us like a baby we carry. When we are baptized, we are united with Christ. Christ is therefore with us as someone we are.
Did you notice that the gospel says Joseph and Mary are betrothed, but it also says “Joseph her husband…” and “do not be afraid to take Mary your wife…” and again that Joseph “took his wife into his home…”?
In their time, a betrothed couple was considered man and wife for all legal and religious purposes except cohabitation. They are married. They are one. Not in the flesh, but in every other sense.
We are the Church. The Church is the bride of Christ. We are betrothed to Christ the Lord. As betrothed, our marriage is not fully consummated. We wait for the wedding feast of the Lamb, when we will be perfectly united with Christ. But, as the betrothed bride of Christ, we are already united.
Where we go, Christ goes. What people see us do, they see Christ do. What people hear us say, they hear Christ say.
We are therefore called to be holy. This seems impossible. It seems as impossible as a virgin giving birth to a son.
But nothing is impossible with God, and God, our Savior, is with us. Always.
