“This Advent, as we practiced waiting in a year that seemed to be full of nothing but waiting, I challenged myself to look for the glimpse of the Incarnation, of “God with us” in my own life. ”
By ALLISON ACKERMAN
“Rejoice, Rejoice” Emanuel shall come to thee, oh Israel.” This is my favorite line of my favorite Christmas song, though it is more appropriately an Advent hymn. The song announces that Emmanuel, God with us, shall come but is not here yet. Israel is told to rejoice because the Messiah is coming. The church celebrates Advent not only to remember the time leading to Christ’s birth but also to learn how to wait while we await the Second Coming. In this crazy and uncertain world, I find it incredibly comforting that we are called to rejoice in this time of tension before Christ comes again.
There is no doubt that this time can be uncomfortable as we acknowledge that the work of the Kingdom of God has begun but is not yet complete. We are strangers here, sojourners called for a time to do work to further the kingdom. Whatever we do, whether as professionals, homemakers, students, public servants, or something else, there are many difficult moments and days. “O’ Come, O Come Emmanuel” reminds us to rejoice as we wait even in this uncomfortable tension because Jesus is coming.
Rejoicing under such tension is hard. Cultivating a habit of looking for God acting is something that brings hope even in this time of waiting. Emmanuel means “God with us,” and Christians are called to model Jesus’ ministry by being incarnational in our relationships with others. We are to show each other and the world glimpses of Jesus through our actions. While we await the coming of Christ, we are called to show the love of Jesus to those around us, whoever they may be.
I often find glimpses of the Incarnation when I see the church being the hands and feet of Jesus in my own life. Like many people, our culture has conditioned me to be fiercely independent. As a person with a disability who doesn’t drive and who lives alone, I am very independent, but the reality is that I can’t and do not need to do all things on my own. In all the spaces where I may need to rely on others, it is the people of the body of Christ who have been quickest to offer me what I need. Whether it is a ride to or from a church event, inviting me to their table for a holiday meal, or even helping me transport donations to Goodwill. These acts may be simple, but they make things possible for me that otherwise would not be. Sometimes people even offer before I can ask, which is a special blessing.
This Advent, as we practiced waiting in a year that seemed to be full of nothing but waiting, I have challenged myself to look for the glimpse of the Incarnation, of “God with us” in my own life. As I have journaled about the ways big and small that I have felt and seen the love of Christ, I have been more convicted to ask the Holy Spirit to show me how I should be incarnational in my relationships. Doing so has made the waiting a little less difficult.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Translated by J.M. Neale from Veni Emmanuel (chant)
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.
O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
About Veni Emmanuel: This ancient advent hymn originated in part from the “Great ‘O’ Antiphons,” part of the medieval Roman Catholic Advent liturgy. On each day of the week leading up to Christmas, one responsive verse would be chanted, each including a different Old Testament name for the coming Messiah. When we sing each verse of this hymn, we acknowledge Christ as the fulfillment of these Old Testament prophesies. We sing this hymn in an already-but not yet-kingdom of God. Christ's first coming gives us a reason to rejoice again and again, yet we know that all is not well with the world. So along with our rejoicing, we plead using the words of this hymn that Christ would come again to perfectly fulfill the promise that all darkness will be turned to light. The original text created a reverse acrostic: “ero cras,” which means, “I shall be with you tomorrow.” That is the promise we hold to as we sing this beautiful hymn. (Source: Hymnary.org)