Emanuel!

The late Catholic Archbishop Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, wrote, "Christ’s coming into the world was not like that of a sightseer to a strange city, but rather like that of an artist visiting his own studio, or an author paging the books he himself has written, for in becoming incarnate the Divine Word was tabernacling himself in his own creation. His human nature in no way limited his Divine Wisdom, but it did give him a new way of communicating it to humans, and one quite comfortable to their own nature. Through a human tongue like their own, speaking their own dialect, people heard him say, ‘I am the light of the world’; they saw his lips move, and for the first time in the history of the world they heard one equate himself with Truth, saying to Pilate, ‘I am come to give testimony to the truth.’

"Now it is quite unthinkable that all this Wisdom should be lost, for it is the Truth of God himself. It is even unthinkable that he who was so emphatic about every ‘iota’ of his Truth being accepted, and who condemned those who would not believe, and who remained three years on earth to teach its details to the tardy intellects of his time, and who died rather than surrender the Truth of what he taught, should allow this same Divine Truth to be forgotten, to be twisted, turned, misinterpreted, interpolated, and explained away as if it were worth no more than the babble of a child."

In every direction I’ve turned the last few days I have been reminded of Emanuel. A neighbor down the street from us has placed a simple one word sign, Emanuel, on his lawn. Other neighbors have installed elaborate light displays, beautiful but overwhelmed by the simplicity of the one four-syllable word in black and white.

Our children bought concert tickets for us. A gifted artist performed one of his original works. A small sample from Buddy Greene’s, "God is with us," says:

I've been washed in the blood and I'm fully forgiven
I have tasted the goodness of my Savior and Lord
He has brought me from darkness to live in His light
To love, serve and honor Him with all of my might
He's the way, truth and light - hope for you and me
He has broken every chain and led this captive free
He was born of a virgin like the scriptures said He would be
Unto those He had created, but who knew him not
For three years he was preachin', teachin', making enemies
Finding fellowship with prostitutes, murderers and thieves
He was nailed to a cross to pay for every sin
In three days He rose in glory, now He lives within
Chorus:
God is with us
Till the end of the age
He is with us
Even though the battles rage
Immanuel - oh how I live to tell everyoneThat God is with us
Our Immanuel
The lyrics and melody were new to me, but Emanuel truth has been setting me free for years, day by day, inch by inch, wonder by awesome wonder.

At the same concert a family group, two sisters and a brother, sang a capella, the old Christmas hymn originally written in Latin. The first two of seven verses whet ones appetite for the rich truth and pure longings of God’s people expressed through several centuries.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
When we worship on Christmas Eve the ancient hymn will almost certainly be sung.

Yesterday Emanuel truth was taken to another new level as we listened to excerpts of G. F. Handel’s Messiah sung by the Delaware State University Choirs. Most of the concert was performed in a traditional style and a few segments were described as "soulful." The Emanuel message was as refreshing as the cold Atlantic waters in the heat of mid summer as tradition and innovation reinforced truth that makes salvation real. Wondrous truth was poured out from heaven’s large reservoirs as the Holy Spirit announced to my spirit, "I am with you!" God’s mind and mine became one in agreement. My deepest desires completely satisfied in a single word, Emanuel!