Fourth Sunday of Advent December 21, 2025

Readings: Is 7:10-14  Rom 1:1- 7   Mt 1:18-24

The sign God revealed to us on this Sunday of Advent is highly significant. God’s choice of the Messiah was from the house of David. However, Mary’s child belongs to all nations. So, we all form part of the nations. This is through God’s love and invitation to share in Christ’s heritage. Hence, Christ is coming for the sake of all of us.

In the first reading of this Sunday, God gave us the most significant and definitive signs about the Messiah: “A maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Emmanuel, which means God is with us!” It is important to note that this sign was given to king Ahaz only after he humbled himself by refusing to put God to the test.

Hence the lessons here include that we must allow God to be God without trying to pre-empt him. Second, we must learn to trust God’s judgment and goodwill for us. Third, we need not run after signs anymore because God has given us the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ. The fourth is that if we humble ourselves, God will reveal “the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (Eph 1:9).In the first reading of this Sunday, God gave us the most significant and definitive signs about the Messiah: “A maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Emmanuel, which means God is with us!” It is important to note that this sign was given to king Ahaz only after he humbled himself by refusing to put God to the test.

Finally, as we expect the coming of the Messiah, each of us must make himself available as a worthy instrument. We must be ready to cooperate with God as Mary and Joseph did so that the promises of God might be fulfilled through us. Also, we must allow ourselves to be instruments through which God could save humanity. So, in whatever capacity God calls us to participate in the economy of salvation, let us cooperate with him as Mary and Joseph did today.

         Merry Christmas        Fr. Terry