Love songs of all cultures express the desires of a lover who yearns to be with the beloved, no matter what it takes. Likewise, it wasn't enough for Jesus to love us from heaven. Whatever it took, He just had to be with us. Jesus took on human flesh so He could be with us (Jn 1:14). Jesus' very name is "Emmanuel, a name which means 'God is with us' " (Mt 1:23). Even if He had to die for our sins, even if He had to suffer in His humanity, He loved us so much that He willingly paid the price so He could be with us and thus save us (Heb 10:10). If being with us meant being nailed to a cross, then Jesus chose the nails (see Rm 5:8).

Jesus, Who is Love Incarnate (1 Jn 4:8), is with us. When we give our lives to Jesus, we join with Him and we are now in Love, because we are with Jesus. Being so in love with Jesus, we always want to be with Him, even if that means forgiving enemies, standing at the foot of the cross, being mocked, persecuted, impoverished, insulted, accused of hating God, or even put to death. None of these inconveniences can distract us from the joy of being with Him (cf Ps 84:11).

Jesus so desires being with us (Lk 22:15) that He gives us His eucharistic body so He can be within us (Jn 6:56; 17:23). At each Mass, we offer our lives to God "through Him, with Him, and in Him." Jesus says: "Know that I am with you always" (Mt 28:20). Therefore, on this feast of Jesus' Incarnation, be with Jesus always. "Rejoice...The Lord is with you"! (Lk 1:28)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 12, 2004

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