Fourth Sunday of Advent
“The LORD spoke to Ahaz” (Is 7:10). This is an interesting beginning to today’s first reading from Isaiah. In that brief reading, the destiny of a kingdom, the fate of a divine Covenant, and the prophecy of a future Messiah (whose name is Emmanuel), is at stake. The scene is similar in the gospel reading. “The Angel of LORD spoke to Joseph” (Mt 1;20). Nothing less is at stake. At stake once again is a kingdom, a Covenant, and the fulfilment of a messianic prophecy. I don’t envy Ahaz or Joseph. Standing at a crossroad with having to make decision that have widespread implications is not an enviable position.
Ahaz and Joseph: Standing at Crossroads
Ahaz succeeded his father Jotham as the king of Judah just when he was 20 years old and ruled for 16 years. His youth and the kingdom’s insurmountable problems would make his reign incredibly difficult. What the Lord asked of him would require great courage, great faith, and an even greater ability to rely on promises. If he could pull it off, it would work. But the terrified Ahaz rejected God's guidance. When he stood at the crossroad, he could not bring himself to rely on God’s promise.
The gospel reading provides a striking contrast. There is a young maiden, Mary, betrothed to Joseph. Just like Ahaz, God also spoke to Joseph. What was demanded of him was also incredibly difficult - that he must not be afraid to take Mary into his home even though she is pregnant, but not from him. He must somehow believe that the child in his wife’s womb is from the Holy Spirit, and that this child is the fulfillment of a 730-year-old prophecy. Like Ahaz, Joseph too stood at the crossroad. His courage, his faith, and an even greater ability to trust God is what is exemplary.
The Historical Context - The Syro-Ephramite War
Isaiah's prophecy to King Ahaz occurred during the Syro-Ephraimite War, a major crisis, where Syria (Aram) and Israel (Ephraim) allied to attack Judah and replace Ahaz. They wanted Ahaz to make an alliance with them against Assyria under king Tiglath-Pileser. But God sent Isaiah to tell Ahaz to trust Him instead of making alliances with foreign nations. If only Ahaz could bring himself to trust God, the threat would end. To get him to rely on God, Isaiah even offered him a sign – “a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel” (Is 7:14). Ahaz not only refused to take the sign but did something worse. He made a costly an alliance with Assyria. Tribute was paid to the king, land was ceded to Assyria, and Ahaz became a mere vasal king.
Meanwhile, this prophecy, “a virgin shall conceive” had a short-term and long-term fulfillment. In the short term a young woman, perhaps Isaiah's wife or another, bore a son and named him Emmanuel.
Christians see in Isaiah’s prophecy a Messianic prophecy which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ – Emmanuel, the God who became flesh and dwelt among us.
Crossroads: Practical Implications
First, Like Ahaz and Joseph, all too often we stand at crossroads - finances, marriage, children, work, retirement, relationships, and even politics. There are decisions to be made, paths to be trodden, steps to be taken. But we don’t stand at crossroads as lost individuals. We stand at crossroads as a people of faith. The consciousness that “Emmanuel,” “God is with us” is the all critical perspective we need. Our baptism, our Catholic foundation, our Sacramental spirituality, our Eucharistic life, makes us stand at the crossroads with a very unique perspective – the perspective that God, who is “Emmanuel” is with us. Ahaz and Joseph faced the very things we face each day. The readings merely provide a contrast between two different ways of standing at the crossroads.
Second, the crossroads of our life is the precise place where God is present. God is Emmanuel where we need God to be Emmanuel. We think of Christmas is an annual celebration. We even spend a season preparing for it. But Christmas is also a daily experience. At crossroads or not, God is forever present to us. But especially, when life presents its complexities, this is the precise moment when God is most near to us.
Third, I find it truly fascinating how God makes us part of our own salvation. God could work it all out without Ahaz, without Joseph, or Mary. But salvation is not forced upon us. God makes us free and integral participants in our own salvation. You and I, just like Ahaz or Joseph, have a part to play. Every crossroad at which we find ourselves, is a way to further God’s saving plan. Every crossroad – finances, marriage, children, work, retirement, relationships, and even politics – these are personal decisions, but for a people of faith are also ways of furthering God’s kingdom. This is great honor, great privilege, and a great responsibility.
Three days before Christmas we could be standing at a crossroad, but we also stand at this altar. In this Eucharist, God is Emmanuel, God with us. May it help us not only to be at the crossroads of our life with faith, but through them, bring good those around us and further God’s Kingdom. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph