Theme: EMMANUEL: ‘GOD-IS-WITH-US’!
- Isaiah 7:10-14;
- Psalm 23:1-6. R. vv. 7. 10;
- Romans 1:1-7
- Matthew 1:18-24
Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent. Advent means coming – the coming of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ came 2,000 years ago in Memory, Jesus Christ continues to come every Christmas in Mystery, and Jesus Christ will come at the end of time in Majesty! Advent is a time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ!
The readings today tell us that when Jesus Christ comes, he will save us from our sins! The readings today also tell us to accept him when he comes, and to proclaim him to others, so that others may also accept him and be saved!
The gospel today tells us that Jesus Christ was born through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the Son of God. He is Emmanuel, that is, ‘God-is-with-us’! He is Jesus, that is, the one who is to save us from our sins. Sin makes us suffer. St. Paul tells us that the wages of sin is death (Rm 6:23); but the Lord wants us to live and to be happy!
Thus we read in the gospel: “The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’”! (Mt 1:20-21)
The first reading tells us that king Ahaz of Judah (Southern Kingdom) rejected the sign of Emmanuel. He did not want to depend on God. He depended on the power of Assyria to fight the war against Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Syria. This was in the 8th century B.C. But the Lord was faithful to him, and the Lord himself will give him the sign of Emmanuel!
Thus we read in the first reading: “The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’”! (Is 7:14)
The responsorial psalm tells us to accept the Lord, and to accept him with clean hands and pure hearts, and not desiring worthless things, that is, to accept the Lord with pure actions and pure thoughts, and not worshipping idols, be they idols of power or wealth. And the Lord will bless us and save us! (GNB) The responsorial psalm is a psalm of entry into the Temple by the Lord, followed by the people! But Paul tells us that we are the temple of God! (1 Co 3:16)
Thus the response of the responsorial psalm: “Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.” (Ps 23:7. 10)
And thus the 2nd and 3rd stanzas of the responsorial psalm: “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him.”! (Ps 23:3-5)
Finally, the second reading tells us to be apostles of the Lord to proclaim his Good News to all the nations, so that all the peoples may accept him and be saved by him!
Thus we read in the second reading: “Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honor of his name.”! (Rm 1:5)
Today in the Eucharist, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we eat his body and drink his blood, and the Risen Lord will give us his Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit will help us accept the Lord when he comes, and be saved! The Holy Spirit will also help us proclaim the Good News to all the pagan nations, so that they too may accept the Lord and be saved! A Happy Advent to all of you! Amen!
Words of Spirit and Life 
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