Immaculata University Advent Reflection Booklet

December 20, 2011Fourth Tuesday of AdventTherefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virginwill conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14Immanuel is a name that means “God with us.” And “God withus” is Jesus, the child born in Bethlehem. He is the Immanuel, agreat mystery of One who is both fully human and fully divine. Inthe birth of His Son, God has given Himself completely to us, in alove that is infinitely sacrificial. God could do no more than comeHimself into our humanity, and give Himself entirely to us — andthat is exactly what He has done in Jesus. His act of love is boundless.In a world when humans are so easily lost and exist in a bankruptstate, where we have sold ourselves into slavery of sin, and we arebroken and damned, God has joined Himself to us! He has refusedto let us go. He has insisted on making Himself one of and with usin order to return us to Himself in love. That is the meaning of thewhole life of Jesus from His birth to His death. It was God takingupon Himself living out our human life from beginning to end, inorder to redeem it, and change us from a lost cause to His cause.Almighty and Eternal Father, help us to see Christmas as a time of love.Shower us with Your grace and aid us in sharing Your love with all thosearound us. We thank You for Your love and sacrifice, and ask this throughJesus Christ, the Immanuel, Whose coming we await with joyful hope. Amen.Christine KerrClass of 2014English – Secondary Education