Fourth Sunday of Advent
Most blessed are you among women.
Click here for today's readings on the USCCB website.
Reading I: Micah 5:1-4a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Reading II: Hebrews 10:5-10
Alleluia: Luke 1:38
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
But You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah (Micah 5:1-4a)
In today’s first reading from the Prophet Micah, we hear of Bethlehem. He says in the first stanza,
1 But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah
least among the clans of Judah,
From you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.Micah 5:1
Bethlehem’s role in salvation history is that of humility. This is where King David was from and where he shepherded his father’s sheep. And this is where Joseph and Mary would go after the census is called by the Roman emperor, Cesar Agustus as Joseph was of the House of David.
Micah prophesies of Mary coming to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus and Micah continues,
3 He shall take his place as shepherd
by the strength of the LORD,
by the majestic name of the LORD, his God;
And they shall dwell securely, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth:
4 he shall be peace.Micah 5:3-4a
Jesus is The Good Shepherd, and he was born in Bethlehem, in and laid in a manger, the humblest of beginnings for the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
In the book “Broken Gods”1, Gregory Popcak, he describes humility as being the heavenly virtue that fulfills the divine longing for abundance and is the antidote for the sin of pride. Israel’s pride and arrogance and serving other gods will be the cause of it being chastised and exiled by God. But the Christ, being born of humble origins will become the true Shepherd of God’s people and their savior.
As we go through our day, how can we strive for humility? Let us await for the coming of our Lord and Redeemer.
One Sacrifice instead of Many (Hebrews 10:5-10)
In today’s letter from St. Paul to the Hebrews, Paul tells of the reason that Jesus came into the world. Jesus, quoting Psalm 40:7, says:
5 For this reason, when he came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in.Hebrews 10:5-6
The sacrifices up to this point had been being made to fulfill the law that was given to Moses. But Jesus comes to perfectly fulfill that law by giving himself up as the supreme sacrifice. He replaces the first law with the second saying:"
9 Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.
10 By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.Hebrews 10:9-10
Prior to the coming of Jesus, all of the sacrifices performed under the law were imperfect sacrifices carried out by imperfect men. Jesus is the eternal High Priest and His sacrifice offering of Himself in the Body and Blood in the Eucharist and the ultimate giving of himself on the Cross end the need for the holocausts given in the Temple.
Jesus is the Paschal Lamb, come to us in the humble stable mentioned in the first reading. His sacrifice being for the salvation of the entirety of the human race.
The question that we have to ask ourselves though is, are we willing to receive it. Are we willing to do what it takes through faith to ensure that when we receive Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist, that we receive Him in the state of grace. Are we humble enough to receive the Sacrament of Confession and when we receive Him in the Eucharist, do we do so with the awe and reverence that is due to Him?
Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45)
After the Annunciation, Mary sets out to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When she enters the house of Zechariah, we read:
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
Elizabeth’s son, John the Baptist, recognizes Jesus, even from within the womb, their destines being forever linked to each other. Elizabeth’s exclamation would be later turned into the beginnings of the Rosary.
But in addition to John recognizing Jesus, Elizabeth also through the Holy Spirit knows that Mary is carrying the “mother of my Lord.” And she also declares Mary “blessed” because Mary believed what was spoken by the message of the Angel Gabriel would be fulfilled.
This 4th Sunday of Advent, we only have three more days until Christmas. We are eagerly anticipating the coming of our Lord in the Nativity, but we are also eagerly anticipating His second coming in glory. As we cut through all of the frenetic movement that comes with Christmas time, we need to slow down and pause. We need to look in wonder and awe.
I was discussing this last night with a friend of mine. I am not a holiday person. I understand and appreciate Christmas and Easter, but a lot of the awe and wonder is gone for me. She reminded me that no matter what, there is still something to be in awe over. Because without Jesus’ coming into the world and dying for us, we would have no chance of being with God in Heaven.
Prayer - Litany of Humility
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
Today’s music:
Popcak, G. (2015). Broken Gods | Hope, Healing, and the Seven Longings of the Human Heart. Crown Publishing Group. p61