Hi First Presbyterian,

The popular advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is one of the oldest Christian hymns, with its origins in 9th century Gregorian chant. The rhythmic, almost hypnotic nature of this hymn feels calm and meditative. This week, I find myself pondering the words of this hymn that has been sung by centuries of Christians during this season of the year. 

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.

This song feels particularly poignant this year, as it speaks of captivity, loneliness, exile, and mourning. It speaks of a visceral longing for the world to be fixed, for us to be saved, that I think is all too relatable in 2020. And it speaks of an amazing promise, a solution to this ache, and a shocking call to rejoice in that promise. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 

Emmanuel, in Hebrew, means “God-with-us.” This name for Jesus speaks about the incarnation, the fact that Jesus himself is God with us. Jesus was God in a human body, here on the Earth. I love that this hymn is so clear about the reality of our world, but also about the radical promise offered by God incarnate. When we find ourselves alone or grieving or captive, even then, God’s human presence with us through Jesus is reason to rejoice. This isn’t to diminish the very real power of human suffering, it is to magnify the far greater power and presence of God with us, Emmanuel. It also isn’t to police our feelings. It isn’t to say that if you don’t feel like singing "Deck the Halls” this year, you are doing it wrong. It is to say that whatever you are feeling, whatever you are experiencing, God is with you. God loves you enough to come to earth and live a life of suffering just to be with you and know you fully. And in that knowledge, we can rejoice in a deeper way than singing “Fa la la la la.” We can rest assured that we are known and loved. We can rest assured that there will be joy, whether we feel it in this moment or not. 

We know Advent as a season of waiting for Christmas, a season of remembering the long wait of Israel for the promised Messiah. This is true, but Advent is also a season for us to be reminded that we are again waiting for Jesus. We are waiting for Jesus to return and finish the work that he began on Christmas with the Incarnation. To complete his victory over sin, over evil, over suffering. To save us. All the expectancy, the hope, and the rejoicing that we remember on behalf of those who waited for Jesus’ birth applies to us as well. 

So rejoice, friends! Rejoice with laughter and cheerful songs if you can, but also rejoice with the steady and somber assurance of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” God-with-us will come to you, too. 

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Neff