God-with-us

They shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us” (Mt 1:23)

God has chosen to be called Emmanuel, to ensure us that He is so close to us.
When we pray “Our Father who are in Heaven” it doesn’t mean that we should look somewhere up, into the sky.

This biblical expression does not mean a place (“space”), but a way of being; it does not mean that God is distant, but majestic. Our Father is not “elsewhere”: he transcends everything we can conceive of his holiness. It is precisely because he is thrice holy that he is so close to the humble and contrite heart.

“Our Father who art in heaven” is rightly understood to mean that God is in the hearts of the just, as in his holy temple. At the same time, it means that those who pray should desire the one they invoke to dwell in them.

“Heaven” could also be those who bear the image of the heavenly world, and in whom God dwells and tarries. (CCC, 2794).

It wasn’t our decision to bring God from heaven to earth. It was, from the beginning HIS own, independent decision to be Emmanuel, God-with-us

What we can do, especially during this time of Advent, is to open our hearts for Him. Not because we deserve, but because we need Him so desperately. Without Him we are helpless, with Him we are in power, we belong to Him, we are God’s children, and no one can take this dignity away from us.

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power. (Alleluia verse)