In today’s Gospel, Matthew sees Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Mary’s son Jesus.  Jesus is truly Emmanuel—God with us—entering  human history in human form.

This fact is so fundamental to Matthew’s faith that the Emmanuel theme marks not only the beginning of his gospel with the birth of Jesus, but also it’s end with the ascension of Jesus: “Know that I am with you always to the end of time.” (Mt 28:20)

What we need to ask ourselves today is: “Do we have faith in this central message of Christmas?  Do we really believe that God is with us?”  This belief is central to the message of Christmas.  God is with us.  He was with the people of Judah at the time of Isaiah.  He is with us in our world today.  This promise and fulfillment of Emmanuel is for us too.  God is with us in moments of sorrow as well as joy, in times of worry as well as peace.

God is with us to see us through our struggle, to help us survive any setback, to strengthen us to endure any  disappointment.

Christmas is a yearly sign to reaffirm our faith that God is still with us and will be with us to the end of time.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell