The virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’ «. Matthew 1:23
SOREN KIERKEGAARD, the Danish theologian and philosopher from the nineteenth century, wrote a short story that serves as a good illustration of what the gospel is trying to convey when it says God is with us.
Kierkegaard recounts how a king was very much in love with a humble young lady who lived in a small, poor village in his kingdom. One day, the king decided to declare his love to the commoner, take her to the palace, and clothe her in beautiful robes and fine jewels. But when he was about to set off on his plan, he thought to himself: “Would she love me?” Taking her to the palace by the use of force did not guarantee the young lady come to love him. Then he thought it would be best to arrive in her village riding a regal horse, surrounded by his imposing royal guard. The young lady would feel overwhelmed by such manifestation of glory, and he would then take her, make her his lover, and have her become his equal. «But would she love me?» again he wondered.
Finally, the king chose a third option. Instead of elevating or overwhelming the damsel, he chose to go to her home. He disguised himself as a simple farmer, assuming a different identity than the glory that surrounded him at the palace. He abdicated his throne in order to win the love of the person he cherished. That is a perfect parallel to what the King of Heaven did for us!
Sin produced a radical difference between God and mankind. God was rich, we were poor; God was strong, we were weak; God was king, we were commoners. What could the Creator do to recover the love of His creatures? Out of love for us He became like us; that is, He became human. And He did so by covering the immensity of His divinity with the ragged robe of our humanity.
He became «God with us» (Matthew 1:23). That God with us can be found when we visit the sick, when we comfort prisoners, when we share what we have with those in need. Jesus is always there for people when they need a God who is close to their problems and trials.
In the simplicity of our daily occupations we find irrefutable proof that, ever since that night in Bethlehem, God is still with us.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Avineyda Hernández
