O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.(O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the Nations and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God.)
Let us ponder our Infant King, soon to be born.
Not in a palace but a cave.
Lain not on silk but on straw.
Not in a cradle, but in a food bin, and that not by accident.
Because he is Real Food, Real Nourishment, Real Sustenance.
He is the Bread that feeds, and through that act saves, and teaches, and heals.
His Flesh will be the Bread that unites the lowly to the sovereign, earth to heaven, bride to bridegroom. But only if you want it, because the Bridegroom forces nothing.
He comes in with wood at his back, the foreshadowing
of how he will go out —
the Body consumed by the base and ignorant,
who will “know not what they do.”
Oh, but be consoled.
Weep not for the babe with the wood at his back.
This is all part of a plan,
“…to be carried out in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him,
in the heavens and on earth.” (Ephesians 1:10)
This Body is even now
consumed by the still base, still ignorant;
it is a true consummation.
O Emmanuel,
O God-With-Us,
Come with your Wisdom and teach us;
Come with your Healing, and save us;
Come with your Mercy, and gentle our fears
that we might finally, finally, welcome you
with a fullness of trust.
And in that trust,
feel gratitude for your love,
and in that gratitude,
know a joy of completeness.
In that completeness, may we be driven,
out of sheer love for you,
to be blessed and broken,
as you desire us,
to be consumed by you,
as you need us,
to be placed by you,
where you want us.
May we be as eager to know you
as you are to know us
(O God-With-Us),
until we are
eternally One-With-You.
Amen.
O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.
And today we celebrate...