We are so close to Christmas. The child is very close – labour time is at hand, the mother is expecting, the world is waiting anxiously, and the angels are ready to begin the joyful song of God’s glorification at the baby’s birth.
Today, our attention is focused on the family unit: the father, mother, and child, with love at its foundation. A child is a fruit of love between the father and mother. In the case of Jesus, He is the fruit of the love of God for humanity, reciprocated by Mary’s love of God and her ‘fiat’ acceptance of God’s love in her. That is why He is truly God and man. Today we light the 4th Advent candle, which signifies love.
In the readings today, we find the scriptures pointing at Jesus the Messiah to be truly God and man. We heard the prophecy about the child that will be born of a virgin, whom she will name Emmanuel – meaning God with us.
The responsorial psalm is an invitation of the Lord and king of glory to enter into the world which belongs to Him.
In the 2nd reading, St Paul confirmed that the good news he preaches is about Jesus Christ, the son of God, who came to us as a descendant of David.
In the gospel, the angel revealed to Joseph that the child in Mary’s womb is of God and that he must name him Jesus because he has a mission to save his people from their sins.
Jesus the Christ is the Emmanuel – the God in our midst and our saviour.
Let us meditate on God’s love for us and how we have become part of God’s family of love through Jesus Christ. Think about how much you have reciprocated God’s love for you. How much have you been like Mary by always doing the will of God in your life? How much have you been like Joseph, who did as God told him through the angel? If we love God, it should be expressed through our actions (Jn14:15-24). Keep lighting the flame of love within the community. Keep sharing love.