- 4th Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 7:10–14; Romans 1:1–7; Matthew 1:18–24
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the mystery of our salvation comes into full view: it is the Lord Himself who acts, the Lord Himself who saves. Isaiah proclaims that God does not wait for human certainty or strength—“the Lord himself will give you this sign”—and that sign is Emmanuel, God-with-us. Saint Paul deepens this revelation by showing us who this Emmanuel truly is: Jesus Christ, fully human, born of David’s line, and fully divine, revealed as the Son of God in power through the Spirit. In the Gospel, this mystery becomes concrete in the quiet obedience of Joseph. The promises of God move from prophecy to reality not through explanation, but through trust and action. Joseph does not speak; he listens and acts, allowing God’s plan to unfold through his faithfulness. Advent teaches us that salvation is not achieved by our efforts, but it becomes real in our lives when, like Joseph, we welcome God’s Word and let it shape our decisions. In this way, the miracle of God-with-us continues to take flesh in the world today. Let’s reflect: Advent is the season in which we recognize that God Himself saves us, welcoming the mystery of Jesus, true God and true man, and allowing His promises to become real in our lives through trusting obedience to His Word.
Don Giorgio