O Emmanuel – The O Antiphons

Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and the salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God! 

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster. 

O Emmanuel: “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, the desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”

(7:14). Remember “Emmanuel” means “God is with us.”

Reflection

God is with us. But was He really?

Did you remember Him when you were designing or sending your Christmas Cards?

Was He there at all of the rehearsals and concerts you performed in or attended during the lead-up to Christmas?

Was He there when you put up the tree and the decorations? Or when you purchased and wrapped all of the gifts?

And if He wasn’t, why wasn’t He?

Sometimes in the Christmas preparation, we forget the reason we are doing all of this.

Things to do today

• Stop. Stop the buying, the cleaning, the prepping. Whatever you have done, is enough. If you need permission to just let it be, here it is. Just rest.
• Read some Christmas books.
• Listen to Christmas Music.
• Relax.