Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 -
[Isaiah 7:10-14 and Luke 1:26-38]Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
"What's in a name?" asks Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Today we see two names: Emmanuel and Jesus. Of course they are not the same name. But we are not the authors of God's plan! Isaiah is describing a hoped-for deliverer against the enemies of Israel, but Ahaz prefers to put his hopes in the Assyrians! "Emmanuel" means, "God is with us." "Jesus" means basically, "Help!" Both names are consoling!
Our culture does not go much for descriptive names anymore. In baptismal tradition, a saint's name was often given from the day of the baptism or because it was a favorite figure to one of the parents or the pastor! Jesus' name is purposeful. He is the fulfillment of God's promise to send help to Israel, as described in the "Benedictus" canticle later on in Luke.
When we look at the manger scene, we won't see the little wrist band that appears on many newborns in hospital nurseries. But we will know who the child was, is and ever will be. He is "Jesus" and his birth means he is "emmanuel" - God with us! AMEN