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Archbishop John Wilson’s Advent 2025 reflection

This Advent, Archbishop John is calling us on to reflect on the “astonishing truth” that the “Lord Jesus is, and always will be, Emmanuel: God with us, God beside us, God within us”.

In a video reflection, Archbishop John said that:

“to say God is with us is not poetry but power. It means that the Lord Jesus stepped into our humanity so that we might step into his divinity.

“It means that God is no distant deity, but one who draws near; who shares our joys and carries our sorrows; who opens heaven to earth, and earth to heaven.”

The beauty of the Incarnation, the Archbishop explains, is that out of love for us the Word speaks into our silence so “that we who know sin and death might be caught up into a new kind of life: a life in Christ”.

The joy of Emmanuel, Archbishop John said, is “that God in Christ dwells among us and remains with us always. He knows you and he loves you. He calls you by name and invites you to walk in his light”.

This Advent, Archbishop John encourages us to let the Blessed Virgin Mary be our guide: “The Christ whom Mary held in her arms is the same Christ who gives himself to us at the altar”, he said.

The mystery of the God dwelling among us continues in the Eucharist. Archbishop John said “The same Lord who once lay in the manger humbles himself still to be with us in the Most Holy Eucharist”.

Archbishop John adds:

“Under the appearance of bread and wine, changed into his Body and Blood, the glorified Christ – the one who conquered death – is truly present.

“In the smallness of the Sacred Host and the drop of Precious Blood, heaven touches earth, and we meet our God face to face.”

That is why, just as the Blessed Virgin Mary adored Jesus in the fullness of his presence, the Archbishop said “we too are called to adore him: to draw near, to kneel in love before the mystery of Emmanuel”.

This Advent, Archbishop John concluded, “rejoice that Jesus is Emmanuel: God with us, God beside us, God within us”.

You can watch the full reflection on our YouTube Channel.

Throughout Advent, the Archdiocese will be sharing prayers, reflections, hymns and antiphons to help us rejoice in the beautiful truth that Jesus is Emmanuel: God with us.

You can join us via YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok and Facebook.

You can also sign-up to the Southwark Spirituality Commission's Advent reflections  via their website. 

Archbishop John Wilson’s 2025 Advent Reflection

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel”  which means God with us (cf. Matthew 1:23)

These words, first spoken by the prophet Isaiah and fulfilled in the Gospel of Matthew, open before us the radiant mystery of our faith: that the Lord Jesus is, and always will be, Emmanuel — God with us, God beside us, God within us.

What an astonishing truth this is. From the moment the Word was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this mystery has stirred the hearts and minds of believers. It is the truth Isaiah foretold; the truth Advent prepares us to receive; the truth Christmas proclaims in joy.

The eternal Word became flesh. The Son of God, through whom all things were made, entered our world so that we might enter his. The Saviour of the world chose to dwell among us, that we might dwell in him and share his life.

To say that God is with us is not poetry, but power.

It means that the Lord Jesus stepped into our humanity so that we might step into his divinity.

It means that God is no distant deity, but one who draws near; who shares our joys and carries our sorrows; who opens heaven to earth, and earth to heaven.

This is the beauty of the Incarnation: the invisible God made visible; the Word who speaks into our silence; the merciful face of the Father shining upon us.

Why did God do this? Out of love.

So that we who know sin and death might be caught up into a new kind of life: a life in Christ.

Through his birth, passion, cross, and resurrection, our Lord transforms everything.

He takes what is broken and makes it whole; what is wounded and heals it; what is lost and brings it home. In Christ, we are never abandoned. We are never without hope. For in him, love has taken flesh.

So we hear again the angel’s words to the shepherds: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy” (cf. Luke 2:10-11).

This is the joy of Emmanuel: that God in Christ dwells among us and remains with us always. He knows you and he loves you. He calls you by name and invites you to walk in his light.

And this mystery continues. The same Lord who once lay in the manger humbles himself still to be with us in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Under the appearance of bread and wine, changed into his Body and Blood, the glorified Christ – the one who conquered death – is truly present. In the smallness of the Sacred Host and the drop of Precious Blood, heaven touches earth, and we meet our God face to face.

The Christ whom Mary held in her arms is the same Christ who gives himself to us at the altar. The Blessed Virgin adored him in the fullness of his presence; we too are called to adore him: to draw near, to kneel in love before the mystery of Emmanuel.

This Advent, let Mary be your guide. Let your soul, like hers, magnify the Lord. Let your spirit rejoice in God your Saviour, who comes to dwell among us.

My dear friends, rejoice in this truth: that God in Christ is with us — yesterday, today, and forever.

Rejoice that Jesus is Emmanuel: God with us, God beside us, God within us.