O Emmanuel, you are our King and Judge

We pray today the last antiphon: O Emmanuel, you are our King and Judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Savior.

The Meaning of the Name “Emmanuel”

What is the meaning of the name Emmanuel? It means “God with us.” But when Jesus is born, why is He called Jesus instead of Emmanuel?

Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Explanation

Saint Thomas Aquinas explains this: The name Emmanuel, which being interpreted means “God with us,” designates the cause of our salvation — the union of Divine and human natures in the Person of the Son of God. The result of this union is that “God is with us.”

The Mystery Revealed in the Birth of Jesus

So, the name Emmanuel describes the mystery revealed in the birth of Jesus: that God will become one of us without ceasing to be God. He is true God and true man. Emmanuel is not a personal name, but a mission. This child will be “God with us,” and the only way for this to happen is for Him to be both God and man.

The Mission of Jesus

And because the purpose of this mystery is our salvation, He is called Yeshua — which means “God is our salvation.”

The Significance of Names in Scripture

In the Bible, names given by God always signify a gratuitous gift or calling. For example, God said to Abraham in Genesis 17:5: “You shall be called Abraham, for I have made you the father of many nations.” Similarly, Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”

Jesus as the Savior

Since the prerogative of grace was bestowed upon the Man Christ, through whom all men might be saved, He was fittingly named Jesus, which means “Savior.” The angel had foretold this name, not only to His Mother, but also to Joseph, who was to be His foster father.

God’s Teaching through the Name of Jesus

The name that God has for Him is “Jesus.” By assigning this name through the angel, God teaches us that Jesus is both God and Savior.

Prophecy and Mission

It is a prophecy and a declaration: Emmanuel, meaning “God with us,” signifies that God will become one of us. But He is named Jesus because this name indicates His mission — to be the Savior of all humankind.