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Homily: 4Th Sunday Of Advent

 

 

We've had three weeks to get ready for Christmas. Now let us ask: are we really looking forward to that Someone? Or do we just talk about the coming of Christ in the midst of people in church, while tomorrow or the day after that we don't think about it at all? From today’s readings we listened to the characters who were directly involved in that event.

 


To King Ahaz who was faced with the problem of not having a descendant to succeed his throne, Isaiah prophesied a sign so that he could believe. Isaiah asked Ahaz to go beyond his comfort zone in trying to procure the future of his kingdom. Rather than trying to build alliance with the neighboring kingdoms, Isaiah dared him to believe in the saving power of God promised to the descendants of David. Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would give birth to Emanuel, God with us. He will the descendant of the House of David.


If Isaiah prophesied that the Son would come from the house of David, Paul introduced Him in the glory of the Resurrection. For Paul the incarnation was the basis of his mission as an apostle. Thus, he taught the pagans to believe in Him. The Son of David according to humanity, but the Son of God according to the divinity is Christ, the savior of His people. He calls us to a holy life according to the gospel.


In the Gospel, we have heard how Joseph was chosen to make sure that the Savior belongs to the House of David. In contrast with King Ahaz, Joseph received the sign of the Emmanuel, even though he had to face a difficult task ahead in understanding this sign. While Mary revealed her answer through her canticle; Joseph was just silent, he just believed in the word of God. Joseph let himself be a part of God’s plan. He became the earthly father of the Savior. Thus, Joseph was granted the right to name the savior as “Jesus”. This will also be our experience during experience during Christmas. Are we looking forward to name the baby Jesus born in my heart as ‘MY Jesus’?


God works the salvation for us in signs. God needs people like Joseph and Mary to make those signs speak to the people of this world. Let us hope that we too personally have a special participation in our waiting for Jesus as the true sign of our salvation. 


 

by Fr. Antonius Firmansyah, SJ.

 

 

 

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