“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is an 8th or 9th-century Christian hymn
that is traditionally sung in the season of Advent.
The hymn captures the desire of the ages,
humankind’s hope for salvation,
its longing for the Messiah.
“Emmanuel”, of course, comes from Matthew 1:23,
which quotes an Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child,
and they shall call him ‘Emmanuel’
(which means ‘God is with us’).
We all of us have been created for God,
and for as long as we are not fully united with him,
whether we like it or not,
whether we know it or not,
we will always have this longing for Emmanuel–
for God to be with us.
As St. Augustine reminds us,
our hearts will remain restless
until they rest in the Lord.
Whatever rating you’ve given yourself
in terms of hope,
take a moment to get in touch
with your longing for the Lord.
Is your longing like a raging fire–
or does it feel like a tiny flicker?
Again, no judging here.
“It is what it is”–
and it’s just helpful to know
how things are.
Whenever you’re ready,
listen to this Christian hymn,
and let its words reconnect you
to your desire for the Lord.