Veni, Veni Emmanuel

~~~ Malachi  3:1-4, 23-24 ~~~ Psalm 25 ~~~ Luke 1:57-66 ~~~

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

“What, then, will this child be?

For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Emmanuel...

God with us.

God has always been with us.

He took on our humanity to become one of us.

This act of becoming human brought God 

completely with his people.

The friends of John's family wondered at what marvels 

were in store for this child.

Not even his parents understood

 the future role he would play in God's plan.

Mary might have asked herself 

what her child would be...for she knew the hand of the Lord

was at work within her heart and body.

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

The scene is set...

Mary and Joseph have nearly reached Bethlehem.

They have one more day to travel.

There will be no fresh, clean room 

for this young mother.

She will deliver in a stable filled with hay for the animals.

Nothing can take away her joy...

Nothing can dim her anticipation

 for the birth of Jesus.

Mary rests her weary body upon the back of the donkey.

She rides upon a donkey just as her son will do 

on Palm Sunday; before he is crucified.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

Free us from the fires of hell...save us...

teach us to love like you love.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

be with us in times of joy and sorrow...

be with us in life and in death...

be with us when we are lost and confused...

be with us when our physical pain intensifies...

be with us in the depths of our heart.

Turn our hearts and the hearts

 of the whole world toward you, Lord.

Your birth brings new life...new hope...

new beginnings for our eternity.

You come to ransom Israel...

you come to save us.

Go out and tell the goods news

the Lord is near to all who call upon him.

For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, 

and holy is His Name.

These words of Mary 

shed his grace upon us this day.

The Lord has done great things for you too.

Rejoice and be Glad.

Jesus comes to be with you.

Blessings as we eagerly wait for the coming of the Lord.

May the joy of his anticipated birth 

move you to a greater expression of love.

~~~Peace~~~

JOY

to the World.