Fourth Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 10

Reading 1 Is 7:10-14

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

Reading 2 Rom 1:1-7

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia Mt 1:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 Jesus Loves You!

This is the cornerstone of our faith. We were created out of that love and were created to love. We as God’s children have a responsibility to carry this message throughout our lives, having it influence all of our thoughts and actions. The culmination of that love is the Incarnation: the Word made flesh; the birth of the Christ Child. Jesus was not forced to come forth into this world for our salvation but chose to as a display of perfect love and sacrifice. In the end, He gave everything expecting nothing in return but love.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent sends a powerful message to us. We are surrounded by God’s Love. It has the potential to destroy all obstacles that prevent us from living a life of joy, peace, and an intense faith awareness. Yet, it is so potent and overwhelming that we sometimes shy away from it. It makes us feel uncomfortable because we are not used to it. It is much easier to be distracted by something else that is far simpler to understand or enjoy. The stimulations of the flesh offer quicker results and drown out the calling of our God. We are restless without God’s Love yet we tend to seek everything but that which will satisfy our longing.

You see, acknowledgement of God’s Love is just the first step. We then must deepen our understanding of it and make a commitment to remain in its presence. It will then have the ability to affect us all the more. In much the same way as God’s Love is our understanding of an ocean. We can describe it as vast, deep, mysterious, and magnificent. But, to even begin to fully understand the description, we must explore and study what it is. This can only be accomplished through experience and research; gaining knowledge of everything from the tides to what lies beneath. When this is done, the words mentioned take on deeper meaning.

In the Scripture Reading today, the Lord speaks to King Ahaz and offers to him a sign of His greatness and of His promises. Ahaz, in his fear of God refuses. This represents a fault in Ahaz’s relationship with God. God does not want to be feared. He wants to be loved. Throughout the History of Creation God has displayed His love in many different ways. In this final age, He sent His only son to enter the world in His human nature to display it in its ultimate form: sacrifice. Our God was made manifest so that we may achieve salvation. The words that described God’s emotion during that time of prophecy were being weary, weary of the fear and separation that not only Ahaz had but all of us have created between us and God. Jesus came forth to destroy that separation. We now have to acknowledge that it is indeed gone. We can be seen as a prisoner in a cell who has been there for so long that he doesn’t even realize that the door has been unlocked. He just assumes it is locked but never tried it for himself. We assume that the separation between ourselves and God is there but it really isn’t.

Joseph, in his faith and love of God, immediately obeys what the Angel of the Lord told him and did everything that was commanded of him. God asked him to do something and he immediately obeyed without question. Even though this led to much suffering, it also led to much love and joy. Joseph realized that it was through his actions that God’s Plan would be revealed to the world. We are as much a part of that plan as Joseph. The Kingdom of God is within us and permeates through Creation. It is through us that God’s love is revealed. To experience it, we much acknowledge it, accept it, understand it, then we must do what needs to be done.

Deacon Tom

Cuarto Domingo de Adviento

Leccionario: 10

Lectura 1 Es 7: 10-14

Y habló el SEÑOR a Acaz, diciendo:
Pide una señal del SEÑOR tu Dios;
Que sea profundo como el infierno, o alto como el cielo!
Pero Acaz respondió:
"¡No preguntaré! ¡No tentaré al SEÑOR! "
Entonces Isaías dijo:
¡Escucha, casa de David!
¿No te basta cansar a la gente,
¿Debéis también cansar a mi Dios?
Por tanto, el Señor mismo os dará esta señal:
La virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo,
Y lo nombraremos Emmanuel.

Salmo responsorial Sal. 24: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (7c y 10b) Que entre el Señor; Él es el rey de la gloria.

El SEÑOR es la tierra y su plenitud;
El mundo y los que habitan en él.
Porque la fundó sobre los mares
Y lo estableció sobre los ríos.

R. Que entre el Señor; Él es el rey de la gloria.

¿Quién podrá ascender al monte del SEÑOR?
¿Quién puede estar en su lugar santo?
Aquel cuyas manos son sin pecado, cuyo corazón es limpio,
Que no desea lo que es vano.

R. Que entre el Señor; Él es el rey de la gloria.

Él recibirá una bendición de Jehová,
Una recompensa de Dios su salvador.
Tal es la raza que busca por él,
Que busca el rostro del Dios de Jacob.

R. Que entre el Señor; Él es el rey de la gloria.

Lectura 2 Rom 1: 1-7

Pablo, un esclavo de Cristo Jesús,
Llamado a ser un apóstol y separado para el evangelio de Dios,
Que él había prometido previamente a través de sus profetas en las Sagradas Escrituras,
El evangelio de su Hijo, descendió de David según la carne,
Pero establecido como Hijo de Dios en el poder
Según el Espíritu de santidad
Por la resurrección de entre los muertos, Jesucristo nuestro Señor.
A través de él hemos recibido la gracia del apostolado,
Para lograr la obediencia de la fe,
Por causa de su nombre, entre todos los gentiles,
Entre los cuales estáis también vosotros, llamados a pertenecer a Jesucristo;
A todos los amados de Dios en Roma, llamados a ser santos.
Gracia a vosotros y paz de Dios nuestro Padre
Y el Señor Jesucristo.

Aleluya Mt 1:23

R. Alleluia, aleluya.

La virgen concebirá, y dará a luz un hijo,
Y le darán el nombre de Emmanuel.

R. Alleluia, aleluya.

Evangelio Mt 1: 18-24
Así nació el nacimiento de Jesucristo.
Cuando su madre María fue prometida a José,
Pero antes de que vivieran juntos,
Ella fue encontrada con el niño a través del Espíritu Santo.
José su marido, ya que era un hombre justo,
Pero no dispuestos a exponerla a la vergüenza,
Decidió divorciarse en silencio.
Tal era su intención cuando, he aquí,
El ángel del Señor se le apareció en sueños y dijo:
"José, hijo de David,
No tengas miedo de llevar a tu esposa a tu casa.
Porque es a través del Espíritu Santo
Que este niño ha sido concebido en ella.
Ella dará a luz un hijo y tú lo llamarás Jesús,
Porque él salvará a su pueblo de sus pecados ".
Todo esto tuvo lugar para cumplir lo que el Señor había dicho por medio del profeta:
He aquí, la virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo,
Y le pondrán por nombre Emmanuel,
Que significa "Dios está con nosotros".
Cuando José se despertó,
Hizo como el ángel del Señor le había mandado
Y llevó a su esposa a su casa.

MIS HERMANOS Y HERMANAS,

 ¡Jesús te ama!

Esta es la piedra angular de nuestra fe. Fuimos creados de ese amor y fueron creados para amar. Nosotros, como hijos de Dios, tenemos la responsabilidad de llevar este mensaje a lo largo de nuestras vidas, haciéndolo influir en todos nuestros pensamientos y acciones. La culminación de ese amor es la Encarnación: el Verbo hecho carne; El nacimiento del Niño Jesús. Jesús no fue forzado a venir a este mundo para nuestra salvación sino que escogió como muestra de amor y sacrificio perfectos. Al final, Él dio todo lo que no esperaba nada a cambio, sino el amor.

El Cuarto Domingo de Adviento nos envía un poderoso mensaje. Estamos rodeados por el Amor de Dios. Tiene el potencial de destruir todos los obstáculos que nos impiden vivir una vida de alegría, paz y una intensa conciencia de fe. Sin embargo, es tan potente y abrumadora que a veces nos alejamos de ella. Nos hace sentir incómodos porque no estamos acostumbrados. Es mucho más fácil ser distraído por algo que es mucho más fácil de entender o disfrutar. Los estímulos de la carne ofrecen resultados más rápidos y ahogan el llamado de nuestro Dios. Estamos inquietos sin el amor de Dios, sin embargo, tendemos a buscar todo excepto lo que satisfaga nuestro anhelo.

Usted ve, el reconocimiento del amor de dios es apenas el primer paso. Entonces debemos profundizar en nuestra comprensión y comprometernos a permanecer en su presencia. Entonces tendrá la capacidad de afectarnos más. De la misma manera que el amor de Dios es nuestra comprensión de un océano. Podemos describirlo como vasto, profundo, misterioso y magnífico. Pero, incluso para comenzar a comprender completamente la descripción, debemos explorar y estudiar lo que es. Esto sólo puede lograrse a través de la experiencia y la investigación; Ganando conocimiento de todo, desde las mareas hasta lo que hay debajo. Cuando esto se hace, las palabras mencionadas toman un significado más profundo.

En la Lectura bíblica de hoy, el Señor le habla al rey Acaz y le ofrece un signo de su grandeza y de sus promesas. Acaz, en su temor de Dios se niega. Esto representa una falla en la relación de Acaz con Dios. Dios no quiere ser temido. Quiere ser amado. A través de la Historia de la Creación, Dios ha mostrado Su amor de muchas maneras diferentes. En esta edad final, Él envió a Su único hijo a entrar en el mundo en Su naturaleza humana para mostrarlo en su forma última: sacrificio. Nuestro Dios fue manifestado para alcanzar la salvación. Las palabras que describían la emoción de Dios durante ese tiempo de profecía estaban cansadas, cansadas del temor y la separación que no sólo Acaz tenía, sino que todos nosotros hemos creado entre nosotros y Dios. Jesús salió para destruir esa separación. Ahora tenemos que reconocer que se ha ido. Podemos ser vistos como un prisionero en una celda que ha estado allí por tanto tiempo que ni siquiera se da cuenta de que la puerta ha sido desbloqueada. Simplemente asume que está cerrado pero nunca lo probó por sí mismo. Asumimos que la separación entre nosotros y Dios está allí, pero realmente no lo es.

José, en su fe y amor a Dios, obedece inmediatamente lo que el Ángel del Señor le dijo e hizo todo lo que se le ordenó. Dios le pidió que hiciera algo y de inmediato obedeció sin cuestionar. A pesar de que esto llevó a mucho sufrimiento, también llevó a mucho amor y alegría. José se dio cuenta de que era a través de sus acciones que el Plan de Dios se revelaría al mundo. Somos parte de ese plan tanto como José. El Reino de Dios está dentro de nosotros y permea a través de la Creación. Es a través de nosotros que el amor de Dios es revelado. Para experimentarlo, lo reconocemos mucho, lo aceptamos, lo entendemos, entonces debemos hacer lo que hay que hacer.

Diácono Tom

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Third Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 7

Reading 1 Is 35:1-6a, 10

The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD God keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
R. Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Jas 5:7-10

Be patient, brothers and sisters,
until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
being patient with it
until it receives the early and the late rains.
You too must be patient.
Make your hearts firm,
because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Alleluia Is 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 There can be JOY in waiting. The longer we wait for something there is more expectation. With that expectation comes a building up of anticipation. In a relationship with Jesus Christ there should be no anxiety accompanying the waiting. In our faith-life, there is a final goal that is anticipated but this is only achieved with our physical death when we are transformed into a perfect creature unified with our Creator. Yes, that will be a wonderful day when Jesus Christ comes in final victory against everything that opposes Him and His enemies are put under His feet. Everything that comes before that glorious day is a building up to that event. As we all progress forward it should be with an understanding that the goal is the pinnacle of our existence and, as long as we carry these thoughts with us, the journey towards it should be as rewarding. The present is where we are physically and spiritually. Our mental state should remain with them. How can we fully experience Jesus Christ in our lives if we are constantly orientated towards the future? The JOY becomes more evident with acceptance that there is more to come without ignoring or belittling what we have in the present.

When John the Baptist was performing a Baptism of Repentance, he was also foretelling the coming of someone greater than he. Because of his prophecy, did that make the baptism less important or impactful? Was the experience of transformation experienced by those in the Jordan minimized because of other events to come? The answer is a resounding no! When living one’s faith, the importance of a coming event should not reduce the JOY of the current event. In fact, the present event enhances the things to come. It serves as a little taste of a larger banquette. That banquette cannot be indulged in without taking a small sample first. It entices yet satisfies the yearning for the moment while leaving an impact that will forever change us and prepare us for the future.

Jesus Christ has the capability to influence our lives in so many ways. It starts small with a realization that there is a better way. It is a seed that is being planted. Then the seed is nurtured and grows. We are growing every day when we act out our faith. Even though there are times when we become impatient, we must ignore the instinct to abandon what we seek and let things progress in the way that God intended. We will be here for a very long time and must realize that the changes through Jesus Christ will take longer than we expect to come to fulfillment. The little adjustments that we make will have a great impact on our future. We might not realize this in the present but that does not mean that it will not happen. Little adjustments lead to great results. We tend to underestimate Jesus Christ in regards to what He can do. This must be overcome as we seek to be patient and accepting to what comes our way. In the end, Jesus will prevail and reveal to us a better way.

The Prophet Isaiah tells us about the Coming of The Lord. The Letter of James tells us to be patient, knowing that everything that has been promised to us will be given to us in good time. Why do we doubt that our God will fulfill the promises He made to us? How dare we question Him. Yes, it is natural to question our friends but it is unnatural to question God. Instead we should focus on the JOY present when we fully trust and understand that what god has promised to us will be given in due time. Until His promises are fulfilled, know that He is with us and loving us until that time.

Deacon Tom