Wednesday, December 23, 2009

O Emmánuel

O Emmánuel, Rex et légifer noster, exspectátio Géntium, et Salvátor eárum : veni ad salvándum nos, Dómine, Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, King and our bearer of the Law, Hope of the people and their Saviour: Come for to save us, Lord, Our God!


O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

The word legifer is intriguing. My Latin dictionary (yes, I found it) translates it as Lawgiver, yet the words lucifer (light bearer) and dapifer (a waiter or feast-bearer) have this sense of carrying something, or bearing something for the purpose of distribution, hence my translation above.

God comes among us, stays with us. Over the past week we have seen how He brings the Law as the Wisdom of God to stretch us into the people upon whom He can smile; how he appears to Moses as the Great Lord Adonai with tables of stone; how He bears the full weight of the Law upon the Cross as the root of David nailed upon the Tree; how He bears the Law to set us free from its shackles; how His Law is a lantern to our feet and a light unto our paths as He rises with the Dayspring; how He bears the Law as King and true and lawful Ruler of the people.

This Divine Law rules the Universe. It may be described as mathematical rules, but these may only describe a meagre portion of our existence. It may exist in Catechisms and Creeds and Councils, but the full Revelation is not yet made. It may show us how to live lives, yet our understanding of its true legality merely hinders us and cannot save us. The Greatness of this Law, the full power of its Salvation lies in one simple fact: a baby is born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago.

This is the Divine Law. God is with us. He has always wanted to be with us. He was born with us. He died with us. He is with us.

And we shall be with Him.

In Eternity.

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