Emmanuel, God-with-us. Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent, Year A.

At first glance, it might seem confusing that the angel instructs Joseph to name the child Jesus, while Isaiah’s prophecy speaks of a child called Emmanuel. But Matthew is not suggesting that the same child should literally have two different names. The name Jesus means “Yahweh saves”; it tells us what he comes to do — to bring salvation to his people. The name Emmanuel tells us who the child is - the very presence of God among his people. So the two names, Jesus and Emmanuel complement each other. Jesus is Emmanuel: in him, God has come to dwell with us and to save us.