In this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the stage is being set for the coming of the Child in the Manger. We began this journey four weeks ago with a call to prepare: “Therefore, stay awake! . . . So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Over these weeks, St. John the Baptist has been admonishing us to prepare: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” . . . Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” In this final week of preparation, we encounter St. Joseph and acknowledge the presence of the Angel who reveals a great deal of information to us. First, we are reminded of how this great mystery unfolded: “For it is through the Holy Spirit that this Child has been conceived in Her.” Second, we learn the Name of the One to be born: “you are to name him Jesus” and “They shall name Him Emmanuel.” Third, with the name is the reality of His identity and mission: “He will save His people from their sins” and “God is with us.”. So now in this final week of preparation what do we do with this information? We have a choice today as we do each day. We can either disregard all that we have seen and heard or we can act like St. Joseph. He awoke from the dream and did exactly, “as the Angel of the Lord commanded him.” Over the past four weeks, we have been preparing for this moment. In just a few days, the stockings will be stuffed, the trees will be trimmed, and all the gifts will be wrapped. With all those preparations being finished, take the time now to reflect on the scene of today’s Gospel. Ask yourself, how it is that you respond to God’s messages and/or inspirations. Do you, out of fear, disregard them or do you respond with the confidence of St. Joseph.
Faithfully Yours in Christ,
Fr. Wayne