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Ahaz the king of the Judean, around 733 B.C. knew that Peteh, the King of
the Israelites was complotting with Rezin the king of the Arameans against
him.Is. 7: 1-2. He was thinking to call on the Neo-Assyrians to fight with
him against them, when the Lord asked Isaiah the prophet to go to king Ahaz
and tell him: "Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear..." Is. 7: 4-5,
because the Lord will be on your side and he will save you and your people.
But Ahaz, fearful wanted to be sure so the Lord tells him: "Ask for a sign...
let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky", 7:10. The Isaiah
assure him and tell him that the Lord will give you a sign and you should
not rely on the Neo-Assyrians but on the Lord. That time will come when the
prophecy made to David 2 Sam 7:12-16 about God with us, the Emmanuel will
be fulfilled. "The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name
him Emmanuel", Is 7:14
The Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, 1:1-7 will tell us about
this child: "About the son which God promised previously through his prophets
in the holy Scriptures, who will descend from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness
... "
The Gospel of St. Matthew 1:18-24 will tell us that God had fulfilled his
promise through Mary, the Virgin by excellence who brought us a son who will
save the whole world.
When we rely on God, we know that God is faithful, when we rely on people,
we know that people change according their personal interest.
St. Bede (C. 673-735) says in his homily commenting on St. Matthew's account
of the Emmanuel: "The name God with us, given to our Savior by the prophet
... became Emmanuel ...in the womb of his mother, because when the Word was
made flesh and lived among us he deigned to unite our frail human nature
to his own person ... May Jesus Christ fulfill his saving task by saving
us from our sins; may he discharge his priestly office by reconciling us
to God the Father, and may he exercise his royal power by admitting us to
his Father's kingdom".
As we start our Novena for the second year at St. Thomas More, may all the
families of our one family, the church, start to bring their hearts together
so as to receive the gift of the Virgin Mary to the world a God of love "the
Emmanuel" who wants to bless our homes and lives. Do not miss to come and
share your time with God who wants to be the "God-with-us".
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