A Maiden is with Child

A Maiden is with Child

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Ish 7:10-14, Rom. 1:1-7, Mt. 1:18-24. On this Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A, we focus on the last of the four themes of Advent, namely: hope, peace, joy and love. This Sunday we focus on the theme of love in preparation for Christmas. It is timely that on this last Sunday of Advent before the time of Christmas that we look into the very core of the Christmas celebration, the love of God made Man, the love of God coming to dwell among us in Christ. Today's first reading narrates the encounter between the Prophet Isaiah and king Ahaz of Judah, in which the Prophet Isaiah prophesied of the coming of the Messiah, clearly speaking of how the Messiah would come, through the sign of the virgin bearing a child, the one through whom God would dwell among His people, ‘Emmanuel’, meaning ‘God is with us’.

Today's second reading and the Gospel are narratives about the birth and life of Christ. The readings remind us that the signs that God gave us through the Prophets, that is, the signs which are the foundation of our hope this season, are not empty words. Rather, they are true and fulfilled in Christ. God became flesh, assuming the full nature of our humanity and becomeS Son of Man and Son of God. This is what the Angel of God reiterated to Joseph in today's Gospel, when he hesitated to take Mary as his wife because she had become pregnant before their marriage and before it was to be consummated. We must celebrate the love as we prepare for Christmas with all the glamour and bling of the occasion. We are called to forgive and reach out to share our joy and love rather than selfishly keeping all the joy to ourselves.

May the Lord bless our Advent preparations for Christmas and may we celebrate it with hearts full of joy as we share with others! Amen!! Good morning and happy Sunday!!!

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