By Deacon Richard Hay
“Waiting with promise and trust…”
Looking back over the first three Sundays of Advent, we have heard a lot about preparing prayerfully as we wait for the arrival of Jesus at Christmas. The goal has been to not rush forward on the calendar but to use this period to prepare our hearts for His coming.
Yet – even here in our church – there has been the need to take care of some things during this final week of Advent as I am sure many of you had to do at home. Don’t worry – that is all OK.
As beautiful as it all looks – even more so when the lights are turned on – those things are still not our focus on this final Sunday of Advent. Instead – we shift our gaze on love – the love God has for us.
Did you know that during the seven days before Christmas, the church shifts to a particular set of prayers and scriptures for the daily mass to help us complete our Advent preparation.
First, we hear the genealogy of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew – all 42 generations.
We also heard the same gospel which I just proclaimed and how Joseph was told in a dream by the Angel of the Lord to take Mary into His home and not be afraid.
The next gospel tells of the angel Gabriels visit to Zechariah when he learned that his wife Elizabeth, who we know was Marys’ relative, would give birth despite her advanced years to a son to be named John. Zechariah was also made mute for his disbelief.
Next, we hear again from Luke about Gabriel’s visit to Mary for the Annunciation. Mary provides her yes to this news even though she did not fully understand it at that moment.
Next week before Christmas, we will continue to hear from this special series of gospels about Mary’s proclamation of the greatness of the Lord – her Magnificat – also known as the Canticle of Mary; then we will hear about the birth and naming of John. As he receives his ability to speak once again, Zechariah offers blessing to God in what we now know as the Canticle of Zechariah.
As you can see, scripture is beautiful and can not only help us prepare for the Nativity of the Lord in this case, but can also unite the readings as we come together each Sunday. If you do not already read the daily mass readings, it can really enrich your prayer life and the life we live in the church.
And now we find ourselves just four days away from Christmas. The final candle on our Advent wreath glows with anticipation. Outside, the world is bustling – stores are crowded, lists are long, traffic is hectic, and our calendars are full. But here, in this sacred space, we are invited once again to pause. To breathe. To listen for the gentle whisper of God’s presence among us.
Advent is a season of waiting, but it’s not a passive waiting. It’s a time of hope-filled expectation, of preparing our hearts to welcome Christ anew. And today, the scriptures speak to us of promise, of trust, and of the extraordinary ways God enters into our ordinary lives.
Our first reading from Isaiah takes us back to a moment of crisis for King Ahaz and the people of Judah. Surrounded by threats, filled with fear, Ahaz is offered a sign from God – a sign he is almost too afraid to accept. Yet God, in His faithfulness, gives the sign anyway: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Emmanuel which means God is with us. Not God above us, or God far away, but God right here, in the midst of our struggles, uncertainties and triumphs.
This prophecy is a promise for us, especially when we feel overwhelmed or anxious about the future. God’s answer to our fears is not always to remove the challenge, but to assure us of His presence within it.
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, reminds us that God’s promises are not empty words. Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was foretold. Paul’s greeting extends God’s love to all people, no matter their background or burdens. In a world that often divides and excludes, Paul’s message is clear: God’s love is for everyone. No one is left out of the story of salvation.
Then we come to Joseph in the gospel. A figure who often stands quietly in the background of the Christmas story. Joseph’s world is turned upside down by news he cannot yet understand. He faces a choice: to walk away, or to trust in God’s mysterious plan. In a dream, the angel tells him, “Do not be afraid.” Joseph listens. He chooses trust over doubt, love over fear. He welcomes Mary and the child Jesus, embracing a future he cannot fully see.
How often do we find ourselves in Joseph’s shoes? Life brings unexpected turns – a diagnosis, a loss, a change we didn’t ask for. Like Joseph, we are invited to listen for God’s voice, to trust that even when we don’t have all the answers, God is at work.
When God enters our lives – they are no longer average and comfortable. Joseph and Mary remind us of this in the way God is incorporated into their lives and His plan of salvation. We then are invited – expected – to also be part of that – to trust his promise.
We step into God’s plan of salvation when we come to the Eucharist at Mass and receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Nourished with this gift that came at such a high cost, we must be ready to trust and let our lives go in a new direction.
We do this because He lives in us which means being Christian is not the “status quo” – and while we might not feel worthy of our role in His church, to be Christian and a member of the Body of Christ – we must do so boldly anyway.
In fact, the Psalm we heard today affirms our worthiness of this role.
When we hear that “only those with clean hands and pure hearts stand in God’s holy place” – it might seem that we who are flawed human beings are not included. However, the psalm also states that we can climb that holy mountain as long as we are among those “who desires not what is vain”.
Perhaps some of us are facing challenges this Advent – a family struggle, a loss, a worry about the future. The message of God is that He is with you, and you are not alone. Joseph’s example encourages us to respond with faith, to say “yes” to God’s invitation, even when it asks us to step out in courage in the face of the unknown.
These readings remind us that God’s presence is not reserved for perfect moments or perfect people. Emmanuel – God is with us – comes into the messiness of our lives – the uncertainties, the disappointments, the joys and sorrows. God is with us in the hospital room, at the kitchen table, in the quiet moments of worry or wonder. Like Joseph, we are invited to trust that God is working, even when we cannot see the whole picture.
The love we celebrate at Christmas is not just a feeling – it is a gift, given to be shared. Let us open our hearts to receive Christ anew in these final days of Advent. Then we can carry His love into our families, our workplaces, and our community as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
