O Emmanuel

"O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God!" The final "O Antiphon" sums up all the others and dovetails perfectly this passage from Revelation: "I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]." (Rev 21: 3). We normally think of God's presence in the Church community, or in the Eucharist or our own hearts, but here is another instance when God is present through loving service.
Tuesday evening the Central Catholic baseball team ran a baseball "clinic" for 44 students from the Weatherbee School in Lawrence. Our players gave some tips on hitting and catching to these youngsters, and then Santa appeared with bags of gifts for them. Each child received five gifts, some donated by businesses, and others right out of the pockets of the Raider players, who have been running this event for 13 years. The Christmas Spirit of giving lifted the spirits of the children as well as of the players and coaches to the ceiling of the CCHS gym, again verifying what a Central graduate said to me that same day, "Living is giving." This same Raider squad also participates in a Cor Unum night by serving meals at this popular venue for Lawrence's poor. Many other schools and organizations rotate their services there as well. Yes, Emmanuel, God with us, visibly present in a world of broken promises and hollow words. O God, renew our faith in your abiding presence. Let us not only see it in the hearts and actions of others, but may others see it in us. Amen.