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Fourth Sunday of Advent Mass Readings
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14
Responsorial: Psalm 24:1-6
Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122219.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Christmas is only a few days away. Now this is wildly important! The central claim of Christianity is that God became human. The creator of the universe and master of all chose to become just like you and just like me in every way except sin. He came not in a great city of the world, but in a tiny little town as a helpless baby. As G.K. Chesterton observed, the heart of even the most skeptical person is changed simply for having heard this message.
But the mystery of the incarnation is not just something that happened on Christmas Day. God comes to dwell among us all the time, in many different forms and in many different ways. Do we see Him? Today holy mother Church gives us “The Annunciation to Joseph”, a selection from Matthew’s account where the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream. Let’s reflect on Joseph then as we make final preparations for Christmas.
Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant. Can you imagine it? Can you put yourself into Joseph’s shoes? What must Joseph had thought? Do you think he felt hurt and was sad? Was he embarrassed? Was he angry?
The person you’re engaged to gets pregnant by someone else (or you learn your fiancé got someone else pregnant). Imagine that just for a second. How do you think you would feel? What would you say? What would you do? What would you say to your fiancé? What would you post about your fiancé on social media?
Scripture tells us that Joseph was a decent man. He didn’t make a scene or reject her publicly. No, rather than see her harmed, Joseph makes arrangements to divorce her quietly. But before he does anything, he sleeps on it. There is great wisdom in giving our emotions the space of one day – of allowing our emotions to filter through the sands of our sleep. And it is during his sleep that the angel of the Lord comes to him in a dream.
The angel tells Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary into his home because it is by the Holy Spirit that she has become pregnant. The angel reminds Joseph about the prophecy: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us,” (Matthew 1:23).
So, one day you wake up after having a powerful dream like Joseph’s. What would you think about it? Some people would dismiss it as just a dream – such nonsense! Maybe we call these people scoffers or perhaps we call them realists. They will not invest much if any thought in a mere dream no matter how powerful.
Others might recognize the opportunity in their dreams. Perhaps they recognize that the Holy Spirit is reminding them of their true calling in life, but they decide to do nothing. Perhaps they think the dream is too good to be true. They choose to do nothing because doing something is filled with risk. It might mean risking everything you’ve worked for – your security, your savings, your career. These people choose to do nothing.
Still others recognize the meaning of their dream and they wake with energy and a renewed purpose. They seize the moment and step out the front door ready to face the adventure – the life that God has planned for them.
Was it easy for Joseph to wake and to decide to take Mary into his home? He recognized the grace coming to him through his dream, so he set aside any thought about disgrace or shame and he agreed to do as the angel instructed him.
Sometimes we doubt. Sometimes we close the ears of our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we fail to do what is right. Sometimes we don’t know what to do, and so we miss a moment of grace. We miss an encounter with Emmanuel – God with us.
So, as Advent draws to a close, may we follow Joseph’s example and learn to recognize the many forms of God’s presence among us – not just on Christmas, but all the time.
Homework! After basking in the presence of God through Scripture and the Eucharist, let’s reflect on the following two questions in these final days before Christmas.
- Joseph was a righteous man. How do my actions testify to my faith? How can I be more active in pursuing justice and righteousness in this world?
- Do not be afraid. What fears keep me from following God’s will for me? How can I grow in trust in God’s loving providence?
I think doing our homework will help us as disciples learn to recognize and to trust Emmanuel – God among us. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
References:
- Barron, Robert. “Re: Advent Gospel Reflection.” Message to Deacon Rudy Villarreal, et al. E-mail.
- Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
- Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel Of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2014.
- “The Fourth Sunday of Advent.” Pray As You Go. https://pray-as-you-go.org/player/prayer/2019-12-22 (accessed 22 December 2019).
Catechism Links: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
- Angels in Jesus’ life, 333
- Jesus’ name, 430, and 452
- Royal lineage, 437
- Conceived by the Holy Spirit, 484-86, and 497
- Jesus conceived by the Holy Spirit, 744
Mass Readings:
First Reading
Isaiah 7:10-14
The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.
Responsorial
Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6.
R. (7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Second Reading
Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia Matthew 1:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 1:18-24
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.