GOD’S WORD
December 18, 2016 (Sunday) 4th Sunday of Advent 1st Reading: Is 7:10-14
Once again Yahweh addressed Ahaz, “Ask for a sign from Yahweh your God, let it come either from the deepest depths or from the heights of heaven.”
But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask, I will not put Yahweh to the test.”
Then Isaiah said, “Now listen, descendants of David. Have you not been satisfied trying the patience of people, that you also try the patience of my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The Virgin is with child and bears a son and calls his name Immanuel.
2nd Reading: Rom 1:1-7
From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, an apostle, called and set apart for God's Good News,
the very promises he foretold through his prophets in the sacred Scriptures,
regarding his Son, who was born in the flesh a descendant of David,
and has been recognized as the Son of God, endowed with Power,
upon rising from the dead, through the Holy Spirit.
Through him, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and for the sake of his name,
we received grace, and mission in all the nations, for them to accept the faith. All of you, the elected of Christ, are part of them, you, the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy:
May God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, give you grace and peace.
Gospel: Mt 1:18-24
This is how Jesus Christ was born: Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to disgrace her.
While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him ‘Jesus’ for he will save his people from their sins.”
All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Emmanuel, which means: Godwith-us. When Joseph awoke, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do, and he took his wife to his home.
Reflection:
Joseph knew that Jesus had been conceived by the Holy Spirit, but he was so humble that he could not imagine himself playing a role in the history of salvation—until an angel enlightened him on that score.