O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
O Emmanuel, King and Master
all that you say and do
serves as instruction and for our salvation.
You teach us the right way (Mt 22:16);
You reveal to us the mystery of man…
You are our Lord and our Master (Jn 13:13)!
We are always searching
for the One who will show us the true way of life,
who will never go a wrong path.
We are in search of the true Teacher,
from whom all learn and become disciples (Mt 28:19).
You, Emmanuel, satisfy our hunger for truth,
our hunger for true doctrine;
our quest for the right way
and the true knowledge of God.
We have finally found you!
And now in You we place our hope (Ps 33:20).
All nations are in such need of You.
How many go astray, and are deceived
and lust after fleeting things!
Day by day we get to know You more deeply,
and so we understand that You are not only our King and Lawgiver;
but also the Redeemer,
who heals what is wounded,
who lifts up what is fallen,
who seeks and saves what is lost (Lk 19:10),
who brings back home those who have gone astray.
Therefore, O Emmanuel, You are our hope,
and on You we build our house.
You have shown us the love of the Father.
Thy presence among us men
has shown us that, even with all our sins and wanderings,
we have not lost the grace of our Father.
Then You come to seek the lost sheep (Lk 15:4-7)
and lead it to the green pastures.
That is why we come to you
and call all nations to come with us to Bethlehem in haste,
because You are the Way, the Truth and the Life
and no one comes to the Father but by You (Jn 14:6).
Whoever you are
whatever you have done,
wherever you are:
Listen!
The Heart of the Redeemer is wide open for you;
He does not refuse you.
Come and receive what He wants to give you!
This is the time of grace; the hour of salvation (2 Cor 6:2).
A Child has been born for us (Isa 9:5);
A Child who is God but also true man.
He waits for You, as He waits for all nations.
Will you come so that we can be with Him and talk with Him?
Tomorrow will be the last day of waiting,
and then… everything will be different!