“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”
(Matthew 1:20-23)

GOD                                     WITH-US

Hebrew: Immanu-el.
Translation: With-us-God.
English: God with us.
Not remote or distant, untouchable.
Not horribly unknowable or terribly impossible.
God with us. In Jesus.
God with us. Within us.
Within Mary, his mother, first.
Now within us, each one.
Within all of us, together.
With us. All of us. Always.
Forever. And today too.
No matter what.
Forever. And today too.
With us. In Christ.
Within us. Each of us, all of us.
Forever. But tomorrow too…
Come what may.
God with us.
Immanu-el!

Thanks be to God!