4th Sunday of Advent
Dreams can be crazy sometimes. Recently, I had a dream that was not. The dream was real, profound, and my resounding response of “no!” woke me from a deep sleep. Despite my response, I knew God was speaking to me. I was to place my trust in him, not in those attempting to sway me.
In the first reading from Isaiah, there is a tense exchange of words between King Ahaz and the prophet Isaiah. God is offering Ahaz to ask for a sign as deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky, but Ahaz refuses. It was the custom for kings to listen to the prophets. Failing to hear God, Ahaz places his trust in Isaiah, who renders a prophecy that will alter the world to this day.
In the second reading, Paul reiterates the promises of the prophets that God would send his only Son, a descendant of the house of David. Placing all his trust in God’s promise, Paul, as a slave to Christ, preaches the gospel not to Jews but to the Gentiles.
In the gospel, God is communicating with Joseph through an angel of the Lord, who comes to Joseph in a dream. The passage does not indicate what Joseph was feeling when he went to sleep that night. Was he upset, feeling unworthy to help Mary, or just angry? The dream rewarded Joseph with a renewed sense of peace and trust in the Lord.
When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist and we hear the words the Body of Christ, is our Amen a resounding yes? Do we listen to the voice of Jesus and place our trust in him? During Advent, we are called to participate in what God initiated through the prophet Isaiah and the actions of Joseph. Are we listening yet?
Let us pray:
As we light the final candle of Advent, we are reminded of the deep and abiding love you have for us. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, help us embody this love in our daily lives by listening for your guidance and sharing kindness, compassion, and hope with those around us. Amen
