FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YEAR A

Readings: First: Is 7, 10-14; Second: Rm 1, 1-7; Gospel: Mt 1, 18-24

Theme of the Readings

The word parent expresses the essence of today's readings. It is in Matthew's Gospel that we find its clearest significance. "His Mother Mary, was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." His wife "gave birth to a son; and he named him Jesus." It is a question of parents enlisted in the mysterious action of God in history. Mary, being a virgin, conceived by the power of the Spirit, thus fulfilling Isaiah’s messianic prophecy (First reading). Joseph is a just man. He accepts and respects the mystery of God, but is bewildered by what God is asking of him. God gives him an answer: "Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.... She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus." Thus, through Joseph, Jesus as man was born from the stock of David.

Doctrinal Message

What does God's Word tell us about the parents of Jesus? About Mary we are told that she was a virgin who conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew's Gospel, it is understood that Mary's virginity was prophesied in Is 7, 10-14. Thus it follows on one hand the intention of the sacred author who wrote the "Book of Emmanuel" (Is 7, 1 - 12, 6), placing this text in a context that transcends the particular historical phenomenon. On the other, it also follows an old Jewish tradition of several centuries that refers to the sign given by Isaiah to Ahaz (the Hebrew word "almah" means young maiden), probably referring to the son who would be born to the king, that is, Hezekiah, to confirm the promise that Yahweh made to David's dynasty.

The Virgin Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this phrase Matthew reveals the origin of the son of Mary. According to some manuscripts, years later St. John would write in the prologue to his Gospel: "Who was born not out of human stock... or of the will of man but of God himself" (Jn 1:13). Matthew's reference does not give a negative idea of sexuality or of the generative act. Rather, he emphasizes the origin of him who was conceived, so that men would know and accept with ease that Mary's son is God's Son.

Joseph is called just. According to the times, this word meant that he lived in obedience to the precepts of the law of Yahweh, and sought God's will in all things. Being just, Joseph never doubted Mary's virginity. His concern was to know exactly what God wanted from him in the circumstances that were so unique and mysterious. God, who is faithful, revealed to him his role of putative father, by which Jesus' descent from the line of David was confirmed. 

Both Mary and Joseph had a vocation to fulfill. Mary, a virgin, was called to be the Mother of God. Joseph, being just, was called to be the "father" of God. Both were bewildered when they were called, but both took recourse to God, and God introduced them to the truth of the mystery. Trusting in God, Mary and Joseph said yes, with a generous heart, each willing to fulfill the mission God entrusted to them.

Pastoral Suggestions 

Given the current social situation, today's liturgy gives food for reflection. We are finding more and more frequently the phenomena of unwed mothers, parents who are separated and whose children suffer the parental conflict, divorced fathers who re-marry, single-parent adoptions, and adoptions by homosexual couples. These are difficult and complicated situations. The Church must have a mother's heart with those who ask for her help, but she must also speak with clarity and firmness. Among other things, we must defend the right of children to have parents, both a father and a mother. In the psychological development of the child, as well as human and spiritual education, both father and mother have a role to play. The absence of either parent can damage the integral, harmonious development of the child. 

We are called into existence by God to fulfill a mission. It is import that all Christians see life in this way, not just priests and religious. There is the vocation to marriage and to virginity. Within each vocation, there is a common mission: to be saints and to cooperate with the mission of the Church, but there are many and varied ways of fulfilling this mission. The first mission of parents is life: to love life, to bring new lives into existence, to form these lives in faith and love, to support all that enhances human life, its quality and development, and to oppose all onslaughts on life through prayer and legitimate means. Parents have the mission of witnessing to cohesion and responsibility in the family, in their work, in the day-to-day living of the faith. Children need witnesses more than they do teachers; better still, they need teachers who are genuine witnesses.

Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOA.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)

[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].