“O EMMANUEL!” (DECEMBER 23)- A REFLECTION ON THE GREAT “O” ANTIPHONS FOR THE SECOND PART OF ADVENT

The last of the seven Great “O” Antiphons for the second part of Advent which the Church addresses to Christ at Mass and at Vespers today goes thus:

“O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God.”

Dear friends in Christ, the title “O Emmanuel” is deeply rooted in the prophetic vision of Isaiah, who proclaimed to King Ahaz: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The name “Emmanuel,” meaning “God with us,” signifies the intimate presence of God among His people. Further in Isaiah, we read, “And the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of your land, O Emmanuel” (Isaiah 8:8), underscoring the omnipotence and encompassing presence of this divine figure. St. Matthew, inspired by the Holy Spirit, identifies the birth of Jesus as the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” (cf. Matthew 1:23).

This title, “O Emmanuel,” beautifully completes the sequence of the Great “O” Antiphons, following the previous day’s title, “O King of the Nations.” In today’s antiphon, we find the phrases “our King” and “Lawgiver,” “Hope and Saviour of the nations” (cf. Genesis 49:10), united with the supplication: “Come and save us, O Lord our God” (cf. Isaiah 33:22). These titles reflect the profound reality of Christ’s identity: He is our King who rules with justice, our Lawgiver who reveals God’s will, and our Saviour who delivers us from sin and death. Together, they encapsulate the essence of Christmas—the birth of the One who came to save us. Without the salvific mission of Christ, His birth would lack its redemptive meaning.

As we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, let the noble supplications of the Great “O” Antiphons remain on our lips and in our hearts. They draw us into the profound mystery of the Incarnation, reminding us that the child born in Bethlehem is truly “God with us,” who brings hope and salvation to a weary world. Let us not allow our hearts to grow hardened by the distractions of materialism, malice, pride, or selfishness, especially during this sacred season. Instead, let us embrace the sentiment of Christmas with hearts attuned to the presence of Emmanuel, who entered our world to redeem it. As St. Paul urges, “Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (cf. Romans 13:12), living as those mindful of the salvation Christ has wrought for us.

Finally, let us remember that the child whose birth we soon celebrate will return in glory as King to judge the living and the dead. May we prepare our hearts to welcome Him, that He may lead us into His eternal kingdom, where we shall reign with Him forever.