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The headlines are shouting doom and despair at me, but today I am not listening.
Only Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Nothing in this world is more deserving of our attention, especially this season. Whatever else may be going on, our gaze should be fixed on Emmanuel. We should be looking expectantly at that manger with grateful hearts. We not only can rejoice, we must rejoice.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - Advent got off to a great start for me, but it quickly deteriorated into a crazy busy, trying week that was full of bad moods and frustration. I felt my Christmas spirit go right out the window and get soggy in the pouring rain we had. Not good. Purposeful realignment is required here. I need a lot more Advent and a lot less… everything else.
The headlines are shouting doom and despair at me, but today I am not listening.Our culture is yelling obscenities at me, but today I am not listening.Problems and annoyances are mocking and taunting me, but today I am not giving in.
Not today. Not now. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day either. For now I am enthralled by one simple, beautiful word, and you should be, too. We should all be absorbed in awe over one amazing, mind-blowing word.
Emmanuel
God is with us. GOD is WITH us. GOD is with US. Emmanuel. Close your eyes, quiet your heart and hear the word pass through your lips and realize what it means.
This is the thing that makes Christianity unique. It’s what makes it the real deal. This is what renders every other belief in every other god meaningless and a sham. This is what makes every other religion a waste of time. Our God came. But He didn’t just come and hang out with us for awhile, getting to know us while keeping His holy distance.
He shed His robe of glory and took on mortal, human flesh. He became one of us, clothed in our skin and bones and blood and sweat and tears. He blessed and recreated our humanity by inhabiting it Himself and closed the gap between mortal and immortal. And by taking that mortal flesh to the cross to shed His precious and perfect blood, He bridged the impassable chasm between us and our Creator.
No other god has done this. Only our God has done the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the impossible, the radical, and the incredible. He came, and He remains. He is with us still.
Does a God of anger or arrogance humble Himself and take on the very form of His created ones in order to save them from their own sin? Does a God of contention lay His authority down and subject Himself to the law of the world He created? Does a vengeful God surrender Himself to an unjust death for the sake of those murdering Him?
And still, the world doesn’t get it! Still, the reality of God’s amazing love is not understood. Still, He is with us, unnoticed. Still, we forget the magnitude of what He has done. We need Advent so much more than we realize! Emmanuel… God is with us!
Rejoice! There is no distance between us and our God. We do not stand outside His door weeping, begging for a glance from His furrowed brow, or a crumb from His table. He crashed through the wall between us and carried us inside His house to enjoy everything He has, including the food of Life.
Our God alone is worthy of praise and honor and awe and obedience because He has left no measure of separation between us and Himself. His love for us compelled our King to become our lowly servant. Love compelled our perfect God to take upon Himself every wretched, repulsive, disgusting sin in order to free us, cleanse us and make us new. Love compelled the Lord who owes us nothing to pay everything to redeem our debt.
No other god can compare. Only Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Nothing in this world is more deserving of our attention, especially this season. Whatever else may be going on, our gaze should be fixed on Emmanuel. We should be looking expectantly at that manger with grateful hearts. We not only can rejoice, we must rejoice. Heaven forbid we let these weeks pass without taking notice of God’s unspeakable gift.
Of course, life will go on, and our obligations must be met. Work must be done and should be done. Important current issues must be dealt with and not ignored. But heaven forbid we blow past Advent in our haste and worry and stress, and fail to open our minds each day to the miracle of Emmanuel. It is an astounding word; it is an astounding reality. If we do not tell the world, how will they ever know? If our joyful expectancy is not contagious, what a tragedy!
Emmanuel ~ God is with us! Rejoice!
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Jennifer Hartline is a Catholic Army wife and stay-at-home mother of three precious kids who writes frequently on topics of Catholic faith and daily living. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online.
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Thank you, I needed this article. I realized this week I was slipping into a very "UN-joyful" attitude, letting the world invade my Joy. Your article was an answer to my prayer. Now I will strive to have a joyful Advent and a Merry Christmas.
Beautiful - thank you Jennifer Hartline.
I Just wanted to say thank you for this wonderful article on the REAL meaning of this season. Also, to compliment this article, one may want to hear the song 'How Many Kings' by Down Here.
A superb explanation of what we are to God, and How we matter, even in our sinful degraded situation. Who could invent a God like ours ? Who in their wildest imagining could know that love could be so intense as this. The gift we have never earned, the gift that gives for all eternity. As the father said, "Let Every Head Bow at the name, JESUS!" Thank You for the reminder of why I am a Catholic, and love being Catholic more with every passing day.
Jennifer, thank you for writing such beautiful reminder and explaination of Advent.
What a wonderful article! Selah. Selah. Selah.
very inspiring. i've been anticipating advent but still got surprised when i was not able to prepare myself for it because of the earth-bound concerns that presses me. thank you for reminding that God is with us. Have a wonderful Christmas (",)
God bless you.
"This is what renders every other belief in every other god meaningless and a sham. This is what makes every other religion a waste of time." To every respectful and thinking catholic these lines destroy an otherwise uplifting article
I'M /W/ JENNIFER!! WRITE ON!!!
I wish all could understand the role of Mary. Oh what a caring Mother. I wish I can do all my actions In Jesus With Jesus and For Jesus, through Her. Oh the Mystry of incarnation, what a tender Mother You fell in to. May God help us in Jesus Name Amen.
Great article
Hallelujah!!! Praise be to God! Deo Gratias!
Great Article (: