Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Mi 5:1-4a
Micah gives his prediction of the messianic king coming from this small community (Bethlehem) of David’s line.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Here the psalmist implores the Lord to send the Messiah (“Rouse your power, and come to save us.”) This will be the gift that fulfills all hopes (“Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name.”)
Reading II Heb 10:5-10
In this passage from Hebrews we are told how Christ came, not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. He says “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire”. Christ becomes the sacrifice, the sin offering that fulfills the requirement of the law for all time.
Gospel Lk 1:39-45
We hear again the Gospel we were given on Thursday this past week. The mother of John the Baptist, Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth once more says for us the words of the Rosary and we are reminded that the Mother of God made a huge sacrifice for us as well.
Reflection:
We have the shortest possible 4th week of Advent. It is literally hours long, depending on when we begin our celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus. In this moment we hold our breaths as our Lord and savior comes to meet us. It is in this hour especially we remember all of those Christmases past and especially those who have now gone on before us in faith to be always with our God.
We pray today especially with Elizabeth, in humility as she asks; “ And how does this happen to me?” How indeed does this happen to us that the one who saved us for all time by becoming a sin offering to the Father comes to us in this time one this day?
Perhaps our response should be like Mary’s was to Elizabeth;
Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord
Our spirits rejoice in God our savior.
He has looked once more with favor on his lowly servants and generations to come will call us blessed.
Pax
Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Mi 5:1-4a
Micah gives his prediction of the messianic king coming from this small community (Bethlehem) of David’s line.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Here the psalmist implores the Lord to send the Messiah (“Rouse your power, and come to save us.”) This will be the gift that fulfills all hopes (“Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name.”)
Reading II Heb 10:5-10
In this passage from Hebrews we are told how Christ came, not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. He says “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire”. Christ becomes the sacrifice, the sin offering that fulfills the requirement of the law for all time.
Gospel Lk 1:39-45
We hear again the Gospel we were given on Thursday this past week. The mother of John the Baptist, Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth once more says for us the words of the Rosary and we are reminded that the Mother of God made a huge sacrifice for us as well.
Reflection:
We have the shortest possible 4th week of Advent. It is literally hours long, depending on when we begin our celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus. In this moment we hold our breaths as our Lord and savior comes to meet us. It is in this hour especially we remember all of those Christmases past and especially those who have now gone on before us in faith to be always with our God.
We pray today especially with Elizabeth, in humility as she asks; “ And how does this happen to me?” How indeed does this happen to us that the one who saved us for all time by becoming a sin offering to the Father comes to us in this time one this day?
Perhaps our response should be like Mary’s was to Elizabeth;
Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord
Our spirits rejoice in God our savior.
He has looked once more with favor on his lowly servants and generations to come will call us blessed.
Pax
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