Fourth Sunday in Advent
Good morning every one. After hearing today’s gospel, we may ask these questions. Is the gospel about Joseph?
The Bible says only one word about Joseph. It says Joseph was a Just man. Just man means one who is honest and god-fearing. Joseph did everything according to God’s will. He went to synagogue to pray and kept the Ten Commandments. He put God first in everything He said or did.
His faith extended in helping others and be with his own community. And that is why when He found out that Mary was pregnant, he was afraid that the community would judge her and so he wanted to dismiss her quietly if not she would be stoned to death.
Because of his faith in God and service to community, he was blessed to communicate with divine creatures such as angles. When he was confused about Mary, The Angel appeared to him and directed him.
Joseph was chosen in a special way to be the foster father of Jesus.
And we may ask is today’s gospel about Mary?
1. Though Mary was chosen by God in a special way, the angel Gabriel came and announced the good news to her. Yes, God did not take her free will. He through the Angel asked her willingness. When Mary said, “Let it be done according to your will, then only things began to change.
2. Once Mary came to know that she was chosen by God, she began to be humble and simple. She began to be more active of doing things to glorify God and His will.
3. She too extended her faith visiting Elizabeth and others and helping them.
4. The Church today honours her for as the mother of God, ever virgin, immaculate Mary.
And we may ask is today’s gospel about Jesus the only son of God?
1. The very name Jesus was given by the Angel means Saviour. He came to save humanity and take them back to God almighty.
2. While all the prophets, kings and holy men and women failed to communicate the divine wisdom and knowledge, God at last sent His only Son Jesus who said, “ call God father”
3. Everything Christ our Lord said through miracles and preaching, wonders and words takes us to God our father.
4. Christ our Good shepherd made us children of god.
Dear friends today’s gospel is all about you and me. Yes it is about us. God’s divine plan is to let us know that we are not alone. In our happiness and joy, in our suffering and pain, God is with us. When we call upon him, there we will see him face to face.
Once a man knelt before God and said, “God… I can not go like this any more and I am going to give up and the cross that I am carrying is too heavy”. God appeared to him and said, “Son, I will never let you carry any cross that is too heavy for you” then he took to a room where there were so many crosses with different sizes. The man saw crosses which never had beginning or end. Some were too heavy and huge. Then he finally saw a small cross on the wall. He looked at God and said, “God, please let me take the cross” God smiled at him and said, “Son… that was the cross you were carrying before”. God never let us carry anything too heavy. And in order to prove his unconditional love, he sent his only son Jesus to us. And today’s gospel is all about you and me. As we are going to celebrate the glorious event of Christmas, let us make it more meaningful by sharing your love and forgiveness with your family members and friends. Amen.
