4th Sunday of Advent

4th Sunday in Advent-B 

Good evening/morning every one. Welcome to celebrate our fourth Sunday of Advent today.  

Once a wife said to her husband, "Honey, you won't believe that I had a dream in which you are giving me a diamond necklace for Christmas and I don't know what it means. The husband said, "Honey, you wait and see". Even before Christmas day, she said, "I had the same dream again that you are giving me a beautiful diamond necklace for Christmas and I don't know what it means. The husband again said, "wait and see". On Christmas day, she saw a beautiful well wrapped Christmas gift waiting for her on the kitchen table. Upon seeing it, she said to herself, "wow, I fooled and tricked him again and then she opened the gift and saw a book named, "How to interpret dreams". 

Once a famous Canadian spiritual man said, in 1950s, kids lost their innocence. They were liberated by their well-paying jobs, cars and new music and there came a new term called, "Generation Gap". 

In 1960s, kids lost their authority, it was a decade of protest against Church, government and parents. They rejected authorities but yet there was nothing to replace it. 

In 1970s, kids lost love and it was a decade of Miism. It’s about self-image, self-love, self-help, self-growth and so on. Since everything was about Me...me, they forgot about true love. 

In 1980s, kids lost their hope, they were stripped of their innocence, authority and self-love. They were more confused than ever. Nothing gave them meaning. They began to experience more pain and suffering, more depression and anxieties. They stopped believing in future. 

In 1990s, kids lost in the world of cyber space. Objects became subjects and subjects became meaningless. And thus we live in a world of confusion, chaos, rejection and loss.  

But still there is hope, there is faith and there is love for those who put their trust in Christ the Lord. 

Yes, the fourth Sunday of Advent brings us all more hope, more faith and more love.  

Today's gospel is about Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 

Today's gospel says that Joseph was a just man. Just man in the bible means one who is honest and god-fearing. Joseph did everything according to the will of God. He prayed to God unceasingly and practiced his faith going to synagogue and helping people in need. He put God first in everything he said and did. He was holy and blameless before God and others. 

Today's gospel talks about the great mother of God, Mary most holy. Though Mary was chosen by God in a special way, God still sent His Angel Gabriel to announce the Good News and ask her willingness to be the mother of God. God did not take her free will away. When Mary said, "Let it be done according to His will...", then only things began to change.  

Today's gospel talks about Jesus the only Son of God. The very name Jesus has power and He came to save humanity and take them all back to His Father's kingdom. While all the prophets, kings, holy men and women failed to bring divine love, wisdom and knowledge to humanity, God sent at last His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ who gave the power and courage to call God, Father...the highest revelation of all. Everything Christ our Lord said and did, all His miracles and wonders take us to Father who loves us unconditionally. 

Conclusion: Because of Christ, we have more hope and because of Him, we have more faith and because of Him, we enjoy more love. 

Once a man prayed to God saying, God, the world is without faith, hope and love and please do something before we die without faith, hope and love. And God said to him, 'son, I already did something. The man said, "what did you do". God said, "I created you".  Amen.