Breaking Open the Word
By James Cavanagh
Dec. 19: The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Scripture readings:
- Isaiah 7:10-14
- Psalm 24:1-6
- Romans 1:1-7
- Matthew 1:18-24
Overview:
The first reading comes from a part of Isaiah written sometime during the Babylonian Captivity (sixth-century B.C.). Jerusalem was in ruins and Solomon’s temple was no more. The people had all but given up hope of returning to the Promised Land. The prophet uses images reminiscent of the Exodus to encourage his fellow Jews in exile. “Those whom the Lord has ransomed,” he tells them “will return and enter Zion singing.” God himself will deliver his people. The evidence of his coming will be accompanied by marvelous signs: the blind will see; the lame will walk; the deaf will hear and the mute will sing with joy. The healing miracles of Jesus are a confirmation that God has in fact come. In response to John the Baptist’s question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus’ actions speak for themselves.
This week’s second reading reminds us that even as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we mustn’t forget that he whose birth was accompanied by hymns of heavenly joy is also the one who “will come again to judge the living and dead.” As St. James says, “Behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” As we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Christ, we mustn’t lose sight of his second coming.
In this week’s Gospel Jesus doesn’t give a straightforward answer to John’s question. Rather, he points to what has been happening in his ministry. John’s question may seem strange at first. After all, didn’t he acknowledge Christ as “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29)? Was John having doubts? Was he expecting a different kind of Messiah? As interesting as these questions might be, John’s question is really our question: Can we believe that Jesus Christ really is God incarnate? Jesus doesn’t answer the question directly so that we will have to make a decision of faith.
Key verse:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
“Catechism of the Catholic Church”:
“The One whom (Mary) conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father’s eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly ‘Mother of God’ (Theotokos)” (No. 495).
Pope Benedict XVI:
“Mary’s greatness consists in the fact that she wants to magnify God, not herself. Since Mary is completely imbued with the Word of God, she is able to become the Mother of the Word Incarnate. To her we entrust the Church and her mission in the service of love” (“Deus Caritas Est”).
Life application:
This week’s readings highlight the vital role that Mary plays in our salvation. At once fully divine (conceived of the Holy Spirit) and fully human (descended from David according to the flesh), Jesus Christ unites in his one person God and man; through Mary, God and man have become one. Because Jesus Christ is both God and man, we affirm that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the ‘Mother of God’ and honor her accordingly.
James Cavanagh is director of Evangelization and Catechesis for Metro-Area Parishes of the Denver Archdiocese. For information on subscribing to "Breaking Open the Word, click here. For archives click here.
