We are now only a week away from the day when we celebrate the Lord’s coming in the Incarnation. In Jesus—Emmanuel—God is with us, as we are reminded in today’s readings. For thousands of years, a waiting world yearned for this momentous event. Now we know that God’s actual, physical presence in the world has been realized. Amid all the hustle and bustle of these final days before Christmas, let us not overlook the greatest gift of all.
Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word
This Advent, we have heard Isaiah speak of the day when our misery would turn to joy, when the blind would see and the lame would walk, when the wolf and the lamb would play together, and when nations would beat their swords into plowshares. Today we hear him announce a sign: a virgin will bear a son, who will be named Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us.” Let us treasure this in our hearts as we contemplate the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies in Jesus.
Reflections
The prophet Isaiah proclaims, and Matthew repeats, that the virgin’s son shall be named Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). But the angel of the Lord tells both Mary and Joseph that her Son is to be named Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins” (1:21). The Son of God is both: God incarnated in our world, truly divine and truly human, and our Savior, born into this world so that he might die for our sins and bridge our fundamental separation from God. Wrapped up in the Incarnation is the seed of the Resurrection. God with us is God saving us. Emmanuel is Jesus.
Joseph, Matthew writes, did not want to expose his betrothed to shame, and her unexpected pregnancy would lead to whispers or worse. Remember Adam and Eve’s first reaction once their eyes were opened? They felt shame. They sewed fig leaves to make loincloths for themselves and they hid from the Lord. Disobedience led to shame, which led to separation from God. But God was not willing to leave us orphaned in shame. The Son was born into this world as an act of divine mercy, to save us from our disobedience to God. We, the Church, are the Bride of Christ, betrothed to Jesus, who like Joseph, does not want us to be left in shame.
Joseph was a righteous man, Matthew tells us, devoutly observing the law. He was also a decisive man, working out a plan that would enable him to uphold the law in a way that would be merciful to his betrothed. But the angel of the Lord intervened and Joseph immediately changed his plans. He remained as decisive as before, but with a brand new decision. We may not experience anything as dramatic as Joseph’s dream, but God can intervene in our lives as well, asking us to change our plans, no matter how decisive we already are. May we remain open to God’s intervention in our lives.
Question of the Week
Through all the excitement and stress of this coming week, can I be attentive to how Jesus remains with me and discern how God is calling me?
-from Pastoral Patterns
readings of the mass
LISTEN HEREto the Audio Recordings of the Readings of Sunday, December 18, 2022
SELECT HEREfor the Readings of Sunday, December 18, 2022
Offerings
The Sunday offerings are a portion of our blessings that we give to God (Church) in gratitude to what God has done for us...ONLINE GIVING OPTIONS
