Immanuel
December 2006
What parent does not struggle to convince their child that he/she has the total welfare of the child in the forefront of their mind.
What parent does not look on, in helpless frustration and fear, as they see their child, heedless to the parent's advice and guidance, put themselves in the way of dangers which may ruin their lives.
If you have ever experienced this, then you have some idea of the fear and frustration which God has experienced, on your behalf, from time to time.
This experience may help you to understand what Christmas is about.
"The Lord will give you a sign. It is this: the young woman is with child and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel; a name which means 'God is with us.'"
Christmas is about God, my loving father, try to convince me that he cares, that he is with me, that his only interest is my total welfare.
To this end, God has become a human being; born as a little child on Christmas Day.
To this end, God has lived among us for thirty-three years.
To this end, God has undergone suffering and death.
To this end, before He died, he gave me his Body and Blood to be my food and drink. As this bread and wine I eat and drink becomes inseparably part of my body, so does God become inseparably united with me.
How vulnerable God has made Himself: how foolish God has made himself look, in his efforts to get me to accept 'Immanuel'?
Truly, I must accept that God is with me.