(Audio)
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.
Jesus was given a name that means 'God saves.' It was a popular name, but in only in Jesus himself was the meaning of it fully realized. Others with the name recognized that God saved Israel in the past and looked forward in hope to his saving action in the future. In Jesus the saving act of God itself was revealed.
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us."
Jesus was worthy to be called "God saves" in a new and unique way for the reason that he was worthy also to be called Emmanuel, 'God is with us.' The salvation of God was not to come from a distance, but rather "with us." Hence from then on the Kingdom of God was in our midst (see Luke 17:21). Salvation was not to come as a force acting on the world from the outside but from one of us, like us in every respect but sin (see Hebrews 4:15).
The salvation Jesus came to bring is not what the Jewish people expected. It continues to surprise us as well. It was not primarily a salvation from circumstance but rather from sin. It did not at first set in order the world or the nation but before those the souls of those who would receive it. What really afflicted the world, what still afflicts it, is the scourge of sin. And from this Jesus sets his people free. The world and all circumstances will one day follow, being drawn back into right order by the one who orders all things rightly.
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
"The LORD our justice."
The LORD is our salvation and our justice because he is so near to us. He shares with us a human nature which he himself sanctified by his incarnation and through the Paschal mystery. He wants to be so "with us" as to be in us and us in him (see John 17:23). His redeemed human nature is imparted to us a gift by the Holy Spirit, through the Sacraments and through the abundance of other graces he bestows.
This is all so unexpected it is worth emphasizing. The LORD's salvation does not come from a distance, but from a crib at which we can kneel, and even closer, his presence in our own hearts. His salvation is not first correcting problems outside of ourselves. Such salvation could never satisfy wounded hearts. Hence his salvation is first to our hearts, to yours, and to mine.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
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