Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. (Isaiah 7:10-14)
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." (Matthew 1:23)
"And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
The prophetic words of Isaiah, repeated in Matthew's Gospel on the birth of Jesus, has great meaning to us during this grace-filled Christmas season. Jesus came as the Messiah to save his people from much more than invading armies as had been hoped for at the time of Isaiah's prophecy. He came to save us from sin and death.
Jesus is called Emmanuel, God is with us and God always delivers on his promises. Do you believe that? Jesus assured us that he will be with us always, even to the end of the age, and through the Eucharist, he has fulfilled that promise (Matthew 28:20).
God is indeed with us every time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist. It is there also that we are filled with Jesus, and where our hearts are stirred by listening to his word — the Word of God proclaimed in the assembly. It is there that we embrace the intimate communion that he is longing to give us. It is there that we ponder what Jesus can do in our hearts as we celebrate the grace that God has poured upon us!
God desires to fulfill his plan for each of us. Receive the body and blood of Christ so that in your presence other people can see Jesus' life in you. No matter what we may be feeling on a given day, no matter how harried and hectic our lives may become, no matter how unworthy we may feel — no matter what, Jesus offers us his own body and blood to help us. You may feel tired and weary, but know that through this glorious sacrament Jesus can heal, restore, and strengthen you. He can perform miracles in you and through you! Remember what the Lord has already done for you. Remember how many times he has helped you, taught you, forgiven you, and healed you. Then come to his altar, knowing that through him, with him, and in him, nothing is impossible!
Jesus is still God with us, the one who can fill us with peace, give rest to our hearts, and assure us of his mercy. Jesus is waiting to feed us. With hope and immense expectation as we begin a new year, let's joyfully join our brothers and sisters around the table of the Lord as we receive the most precious gift our Heavenly Father has to offer us.
Thank you, heavenly Father, for your faithfulness and your plan for my life. I surrender my life into your hands and trust that you will deliver on every word you have spoken to me. Lord Jesus, you are God with us. You bid me come to you and receive your life in the Eucharist. In joy, with great hope and expectation, I will receive you and your divine love and mercy.
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Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to adapt material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. Emmanuel, God is with us. What do these words mean to you?
2. In what ways do you experience God's presence with you when you receive the Eucharist? What steps can you take to increase your experience of Jesus' presence at Mass?
3. In what ways do you experience God's presence with you as you live out your day? What steps can you take to deepen your experience of Jesus' presence during the day?
4. In the article, we hear these words, "Remember what the Lord has already done for you. Remember how many times he has helped you, taught you, forgiven you, and healed you." Share some examples of what "the Lord has already done for you."
5. If you are in a men's group, end your meeting by praying for one another to experience more deeply Jesus' presence in your life. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.
