GOD´S LOVE
The mystery of the Incarnation and celebration of Christmas is a total demonstration of God’s love for us. It is the feast of Immanuel: God with us! The Dwelling Presence of God among men and women forever. That is, God who builds the house among us!
It is God who sends the Saviour! It is God who comes to Mary and through Mary gives us the Saviour. All comes from God and all returns to God, but the present is the most important time because it is now that God and humans are in a relationship.
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This is the fourth and last Sunday of this Advent season. Our hope, our peace, and our joy are more anticipated and intensified than before. The fourth purple candle is lit to signify our joy, our peace, and our hope together with God´s love undying for us.
The focus is the Holy Family: Mary and Joseph which awaits the arrival of the God-child Jesus to be born. In a nutshell, Christmas is a feast of God´s love for falling humanity and his abundant grace to raise us. It is a feast of restoration of falling humanity through Christ Jesus.
OUR THEME
The main focus of the readings of this Sunday is on the promise of God of redemption to his people. The revelation of the Messianic secret through Christ Jesus, the fulfilment of God´s promise to his people. The fullness of God´s revelation came through Mary and Joseph through their willingness to cooperate with God’s salvific plan.
FIRST READING: 2 SAMUEL 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
King David, the man after God´s heart had wishes and desire to build God a befitting dwelling. However, his goodwill was turned into an everlasting blessing for him. God promised him an eternal throne and kingdom which is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, King of kings; Lord of lords, and Saviour of the world. Though, King David was not the one to build God a magnificent Temple, God in turn established and built for him a house forever.
The first reading today is from the Second Book of Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16. What a wonderful account of David and of David’s desire to build a house for the Lord! Hence, two things happened David´s house was established forever for his genuine desire to construct God a dwelling place.
The palmist in the person of King David in Psalm 88 sang the praise of God in thanksgiving- “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” This last Sunday of Advent calls to sing God´s praise and adoration in thanksgiving for Christ coming into our world, our lives, and our hearts.
SECOND READING: ROMANS 16:25-27
St. Paul, apostle, and evangelist finishing his very important letter to the Romans articulated the praise of God whose salvation is revealed in Jesus Christ. This good news must be spread everywhere and among all people.
For Paul, Romans 16:25-27, the mystery of the incarnation and the revelation of the Person of Christ is the central of history and all ages. The glory of God made visible to all in this season of grace, love, joy, peace, mercy, and abiding presence: Immanuel.
THE GOSPEL: LUKE 1:26-38
Saint Luke presents the Blessed Virgin Mary’s all-important role in our Salvation scheme. Mary who found grace with God was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, the Divine Messenger of God with an invitation to collaborate with God on what is impossible in the eyes of Men but possible with God. Mary, without full understanding, said completely yes to God´s will.
The central theme for Evangelist Luke is God´s desire to eternally dwell with us. This mystery of God among us was made possible through the perfect collaboration and submission of Mary to God´s plan. Mary saying “yes” to God’s invitation in her life begins a dawn of our salvation and lasting peace.
MARY’S SUBMISSION TO GOD
Mary’s submission is a very lovely thing. “Whatever God says, I accept.” Mary had learned to forget the world’s commonest prayer–“Thy will be changed”–and to pray the world’s greatest prayer–“Thy will be done.”
Mary´s yes fully cooperates with God´s love to restore the fallen human race. When she said yes to God she was on behalf of us, correcting our human fallenness through Eve.
King David and the Blessed Virgin Mary are both faith models for us because, of their willingness to do great things for God. Their courage and generosity to say Yes to God in an overwhelming way.
In them, we don’t need to understand God´s plan fully before we can collaborate with Him to bring about its fulfilment.
We need faith and trust to learn God´s plan or promise and to cooperate for its realization.
Advent prepares us to learn how to say yes to God as well as accept to be Christ-bearers to our brothers and sisters. Like Mary did and showed us to follow in our daily life of Christian witness.
This last Sunday of Advent makes us understand that there is no Christmas without Christ, the King, Lord, and Saviour. And with Mary cooperating to do the will of God Christmas is all more possible.
4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: HOMILY WITHIN HOMILY
In this fourth and last Sunday of Advent before Christmas, the readings of today can be best expressed in the ancient song of Carey Landry & and Carol Jean Kinghorn, titled “GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN GOD MIXES WITH US”. It goes this way…
Great things happen when God mixes with us. 2x
Great and beautiful, wonderful things.
Great things happen when God mixes with us.
1. Some find life, some find peace, some people even find joy. Some see things as they never could before, and some people find that they can now begin to trust.
2. Some find health, some find hope, some people even find joy. Some see themselves as they could before and some people find that they can now begin to live.
3. Some find peace, some are disturbed; some people even find joy. Some see their lives as they never could before and some people find that they can now begin to change.
Indeed, the moment of encounter with God and with one another is life-changing forever.
ADVENT PRAYER FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY
Lord, in these last few days of Advent, of Wait, as preparation and anticipation begin to mount, May God’s gifts, graces, and blessings of the Season of Wait enrich all our seasons of life. Amen. And may our presence and daily encounter with each other be a joyful one. Amen!
MARY: OUR MOTHER, OUR MODEL
Mary, Mother of God and our mother shows us a concrete way to respond to God and to be an instrument of His Divine Will or Purpose. Mary was attentive to God´s inspiration at all times. She listens to God, dialogues with God, believes in God, accepts God´s will, and obeys God to the full.
In summary, Mary like David was more than willing to have God´s dwelling among his people. God: Immanuel is ever willing to dwell among us, however, we have to collaborate with Him to establish his ever-loving and peaceful presence among us.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, you’re coming into the world, our lives and hearts were all possible due to the disposition of your great grandfather King David, Saint Joseph, and your Mother Mary to be courageous, generous, and willing to do God´s will. May we make this Advent and Christmas a season of doing your will to bring about the fullness of God´s Love to all men and women! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! Come! Amen
We pray too that may God build our lives, our house, our Church, our country, and our world—and with that hope, love, peace, and joy as we await and receive the Lord, Jesus Christ at Christmas. Amen
2 Comments