God With Us: Discovering Joy Through Emmanuel This Christmas

As I stood by the church entrance, watching joyful faces stream out after the eleven o'clock mass, an unexpected moment caught my attention. A woman approached me, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks.

She said "father I experienced God with the song ‘Emmanuel’ - I felt that God is truly with us.”

The word "Emmanuel" means “God with us.” This simple phrase holds deep meaning. It reminds us that God is not far away; He is close and present in our lives. During Christmas, we celebrate this truth, but sometimes joy feels hard to grasp.

Sometimes it’s hard to fully embrace the joy of the season with all that we may go through.

As we navigate the hustle and bustle of the holidays, let’s remember that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions. The true joy of Christmas comes from recognizing that God is with us, no matter how we feel. This Christmas, let’s take a moment to reflect on this joy and the peace that comes from knowing we are never alone.