4th Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 7:10-14, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24

 

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

The countdown to Christmas has entered its final week, and since the beginning of this season of waiting, expectation, giving gifts, and receiving gratitude, you may have seen a Salvation Army Bell-Ringer at Walmart. Many people have given to their favorite charities, and others are preparing to do so in the coming days, spreading Christmas cheer. Already, the Christmas trees at our homes are decorated with gifts as the excitement grows, and we might finally receive our favorite gifts this year from our loved ones. Indeed, our experience of giving and receiving gifts reflects the spirit of the season.

The first reading today, from the Prophet Isaiah, is one of the first references to virgin birth. It is true that the Hebrew text can indicate only an unmarried young woman. On the other hand, when the text was translated from Hebrew to Greek, the faith of the believing community was reflected in the choice of a Greek word which clearly indicates a virgin.

This particular passage should help form us as believers. We come to know more profoundly that Holy Scripture is not a scientific handbook that simply plots out how salvation will happen and then it does. Rather the Holy Scripture is a living word from God Himself. Living words continue to grow and to expand in meaning as we meditate them.

The Gospel is also this type of living word of God. We see Joseph responding to an angel who comes to him in a dream but who quotes the Prophet Isaiah—the very passage we have heard. The New Testament is written in Greek and the reference to Isaiah is to the Septuagint version and clearly indicates a virgin who will give birth. There is no doubt that this early Church in its writings accepted the Virgin birth of the Savior.

As we come to the end of Advent we are challenged, each of us, to listen to God’s Word, to accept God’s word, to understand how this word works in Scripture and in our personal lives. We cannot respond to this challenge without a daily reading of some small portion of Scripture. We need to be faithful to this smallest invitation in our life: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened. I will give you rest.

We cannot have that rest until we can come to the Lord. We cannot come to the Lord without knowing Him. We come to know the Lord through the Church and through the Scriptures given to us in the Church.

Come, let us adore Him. Come, let us seek Him. As we wait for the Lord, may our hearts be ever alert to what He asks of us.

Peace and all good!

Fr. Valery Burusu

Parochial Administrator