Ep 1: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The Covid-19 pandemic completely changed how cadets observed the 2020 Easter season at training college. Like the rest of the world, we added many strange terms to our everyday vocabulary – ‘lockdown’, ‘social distancing’, ‘bubbles’, among others. Like many other events, gathering to celebrate was not to be, so we needed to find a new way. As an encouragement, one of our tutors asked us to share one word of hope in this pandemic Easter season. Immediately, ‘Emmanuel’ came to my mind as my hope and strength. This word had been echoing in my heart and mind, not only during that Easter season but beyond. It caused me to reflect on the words of this Christmas carol:

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

During lockdown, we felt we were ‘in lonely exile here’. But Covid-19 is only one of many exiles that we experience on our life’s journey. Each time, we ask God to come and ransom us. The pandemic made many of us feel lonely, overwhelmed, stuck and even unloved. Some concluded God doesn’t care, he is far away. Why can’t he ransom us?

Isaiah ministered during the times of the divided kingdoms when he prophesied, ‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel’ (Isaiah 7:14) During this time, ‘Emmanuel’ would be their hope, the assurance of God’s presence no matter what.

When the pandemic hit, we were reminded to go back to the basics – basic health and hygiene, the practice of washing hands. So, I was reminded to: ‘Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee!’ The promise of God with us. I reminded myself to keep strong to that promise. I am secure in his presence, so it doesn’t matter what comes my way – floods, fire, temptations, disappointments from oneself or others.

Jesus came to ransom and redeem us. It doesn’t mean difficulties won’t come in our way, but the promise is that he is with us throughout this chaos of life. What a blessing to know Emmanuel – God with us. The promise will last longer than any pandemic!

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

Rejoice, rejoice! 
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
Who to thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the Law
In cloud and majesty and awe:

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of Hell thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave:

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight:

O come, thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly Home;
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery.

trs J.M. Neale