Fourth Sunday of Advent
Today's Scripture
Today is the last Sunday in the season of Advent. The Christmas Masses celebrated on the evening four days from now will usher in the compact Christmas season. As we approach the end of Advent we would do well to reflect on how well we have celebrated the season, on how well we have prayed and served others in preparation for Christ’s coming at Christmas.
Our first reading today is from a very important minor prophet, Micah. Micah tells of the future rise of a ruler from in Israel. At the mention of Bethlehem, you can imagine Micah’s audience turning their minds to King David. Micah says, “You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel” (5:1). King David would be the natural figure one would think of, since he came from Bethlehem, and from the tribe of Judah. Moreover, King David, coming from a humble abode, did become the ruler of Israel. But then Micah goes further, in the same verse to say that this ruler’s “origin is from of old, from ancient times.” Again, one might think of David, except that Micah projects this ruler to come in the future.
St. Matthew’s Gospel provides the definitive interpretation of this passage (Matthew 2:5-6). Jesus is the ruler whose origin is from of old, who comes from the tribe of Judah, from David’s line, and was born in Bethlehem. Jesus’ birth was still off in the distance for Micah, and so it is with us as we await the beginning of Christmas. For us, however, Jesus’ liturgical arrival at the Feast of the Nativity, is closer than it was for Micah. In fact, for us it has already happened; God is with us, He is Emmanuel. And thus, our situation is more akin to that of Jesus’ Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, in today’s Gospel reading bears Jesus in her womb. Jesus is already with her, God is with her, but she still awaits His birth, as do we.
Perhaps we can learn a lesson from Mary our Mother in today’s reading from St. Luke’s Gospel. Mary brings Jesus to St. Elizabeth. The presence of Jesus causes the child, St. John the Baptist, to leap for joy within the womb of St. Elizabeth. Is there a way that we can bring the joy of Jesus into the lives of others? Perhaps we can take this week to really finish the season strong through prayer and acts of service to others, all the while preparing ourselves to celebrate the Christmas season which begins as this week and current season draw to a close. Let’s take some time this week to think about ways in which we can bring the joy of Jesus to others during the Christmas season. Then when Christmas arrives, let us put those plans into action, so that we may become more like Mary and lead others to that great source of love and joy, Jesus the Christ, the child born in Bethlehem, God come among us.
- Jeff Morrow