Fourth Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7;
Matthew 1:18-24
The theme of today’s readings is ‘God with us’ ; that is the meaning of the name ‘Emmanuel’ in Hebrew.
The passage from Isaiah ( Is 7 : 10-14) is the first time the name Emmanuel appears in recorded writing. This sign to Ahaz is highlighted by Matthew in today’s gospel. Matthew uses the Greek translation of Isaiah: A virgin ( parthenos) will conceive and bear a son and call him ‘God with us’ – Emmanuel.
Matthew tells us that Joseph and Mary were married ( betrothed) but according to the custom of the time were not yet living together. Mary was probably 13 or 14: Joseph probably 18 or so. According to Luke’s gospel, Mary returns to Nazareth pregnant. Matthew tells us that Joseph is understandably upset! He knows he is not the father. As a just righteous man he should declare this and have Mary stoned to death. We don’t know what explanation, if any, Mary gave Joseph, but God, so far, hasn’t given Joseph a role in this child’s life. Then Joseph is assured ‘in a dream’ that Mary’s child is ‘conceived by the Holy Spirit’ . He is to take her into his home as a wife and this means he is the legal father of Jesus , gives Jesus a place in his own genealogy and is the guardian and namer of the child . He is also the protector of Mary and holds her safe within his wider family network. The child is not called Emmanuel but Joseph is to call him yeshua –Joshua – Jesus – meaning ‘one who saves’. Looking at Jesus, we could say that both his human parents helped him become the balanced person he was and is.
We can read other levels of meaning in today’s gospel . Unmarried mothers can see in Mary someone who went through something of their experience: fathers of unexpected children have a friend in Joseph. It also speaks to parents of adopted children. Joseph is a patron of those who become real parents to children not genetically theirs. It speaks to the ‘blended’ families of today.
In today’s reading ( Rom 1:1-7), Paul reminds the people of the church community that they are ‘the beloved of God - called to be holy’. We are all God’s adopted children. Our call and gift is to love others as God loves us. ‘ Emmanuel’ – ‘God with us’ - not just at Christmas but always.
Rose Mary Kinne OP
Return to Liturgical Calendar Page
or Preaching the Word page
