4th Sunday of Advent (A)

Sunday reflections for liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

December 22, 2013 (edited for 12/21/2025)

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 24
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-24

"Joseph received Mary into his home as his wife."

Last Sunday of Advent was Gaudete Sunday. The spirit of joy and anticipation of Christ's advent filled all Eucharistic celebrations - signaling that Christmas day is near. A symbol that represents joyful anticipation is the third Advent candle, which is colored rose or pink. Rose or pink represents joy in the Advent season. And that joy is expressed in the gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Advent: 'the blind see, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men live again, and the poor receive the Good News. Now, this fourth Sunday of Advent, that spiritual joy experienced last Gaudete Sunday is magnified in the present readings of the Eucharistic liturgy. The Lord Jesus, the Word of God made flesh in the womb of a humble virgin, will loom before the lives and relationships of everyone. It is a time and an opportunity to thank God for all the blessings received not only this Advent Season, but throughout the whole year. Everyone is encouraged to love God more, be kinder to others (and ourselves), and to act justly in the eyes of God and our fellow man. For He who is to come, is coming for all humanity.

This 4th Sunday of Advent brings us nearer to the image of the Nativity, as we listen to the gospel story of Mary and Joseph. Joseph, a just man, wanted initially to divorce Mary quietly when he found her with child. However, when an angel revealed to him in a dream that Mary's Child would be the the Son of God, the Savior of his people, the Emmanuel prophesied by the prophet Isaiah, Joseph obeyed what the angel of God told him in the dream. He did God's will by not pursuing his intention to divorce Mary, but welcomed her and the Child in her womb into his home. So the word of the prophet Isaiah has been fulfilled in Isaiah 7:14, 'the birth of Immanuel' - meaning 'God-with-us' or 'God-is-with-us' is to be born of Mary and under the guardianship of St. Joseph. The God who was incarnated in the womb of Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit is the God who will not only be with Mary and Joseph, but also with all the faithful in their journey as a people in the Church.

Never in the entire history of human civilization has mankind been privileged to be visited by a God who was incarnated in human flesh. Although the Son of God, in His humility, was incarnated in Jewish ancestry and culture, He and His mission is really meant for all. Whatever the angels of God revealed to Mary and to Joseph, truly changed the direction of human civilization. The "yes" of both Mary and Joseph to God's will has began the process of mankind's salvation from sin. If you have an opportunity to read the book entitled, "Life of Christ", by Bishop Fulton Sheen, he writes that history is full of men who claim to have come from God. These are men like Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Lao-tze, and many others. However, their births were not pre-announced; only Christ's birth was pre-announced. Christ's birth was pre-announced by: the Jewish prophets, Tacitus of ancient Rome, Chinese chroniclers, the Greek Aeschylus, Cicero, Suetonius, and Virgil. And today's gospel speaks of this pre-announcement by the mention of the Magi from the East. Such a great mystery as the Incarnation is a miracle that evokes wonder and awe. The greatness of Mary's and Joseph's faith and obedience to God's will is an example for all to follow. Their intercession for the Church is a blessing for all to be thankful always for the grace to have faith in God and to obey His will as best as each can in whatever circumstance life brings to all.

Scripture quotes from the readings:
The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child (Isaiah 7)
He whose heart is clean shall receive a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 24)
Jesus Christ our Lord was descended from David according to the flesh but was made Son of God in power, according to the spirit of holiness (Romans 1)
Joseph, son of David, it is by the Holy Spirit that Mary has conceived this child (Matthew 1)