HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A
Isaiah 7:10-14 /Psalm 24/Romans 1:1-7/ Matthew 1:18-24


Agorsor Aaron Agbeshie

Theme: God is with us

All too soon, the curtain of the Season of Advent is drawing to a close. Today’s readings focus on the coming of Christ at Christmas. The Fourth Sunday of Advent, therefore, symbolizes, hope fulfilled; a hope expressed in the first three Sundays of Advent. The Entrance Antiphon says it beautifully “Let the clouds rain down the Just One and the earth bring forth a saviour.”

The purpose of the Saviour’s coming is to free humanity from the tyranny of sin; the greatest threat to true human freedom. Advent is indeed marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance!

The First Reading of today needs a little context. King Ahaz was being attacked by neighboring kingdoms, and so like a good political ruler, he was looking to join with another kingdom to fight them off. For this reason he intended to make an alliance with the Assyrians who were not Hebrew and did not have the faith and culture that the Hebrews had.
Ahaz had already forsaken God, and was living a bad life, sacrificing to idols and even had murdered his own son as a sacrifice to pagan idols. Isaiah can only see trouble from a political alliance with the Assyrians and is aware of the wickedness of Ahaz, so the prophet tells King Ahaz not to make the alliance, and instead, to put his trust in God and trust that the power of God would help him defeat his enemies. It is like Isaiah telling Ahaz that Assyria cannot save him.
But Ahaz was not able to place his trust in God; he would rather trust human aid to accomplish what he needed. But Isaiah will not relent and asks the King to ask God for a sign. In the same way that you make earthly alliances, make an alliance with God.
Yet Ahaz’s attitude did not deter God from fulfilling his promise to David. King Ahaz had formed an alliance with Assyria in order to fight his enemies.
In spite of all his evil ways, God still gave him a chance for reconciliation but Ahaz did not trust in God. Indeed, looking at the threat from his enemies which was imminent, he sought refuge in Assyria’s military might. In his choice, King Ahaz became worthless.
We too, when we doubt the power of God to meet us at the point of our needs, we become worthless.

In the Gospel Reading, we see a direct opposite of King Ahaz. Joseph, having had a dream, trusted in the providence of God. In fact, he acted upon it immediately and it was well with him. The angel tells Joseph not to fear, and gives him clear instructions about what to do with a difficult situation in his life. But the instructions themselves take Joseph away from the security of the law and the practice of his people. Yet Joseph was ready to face the embarrassment that goes with his choice.

If God is with us today, God is also not silent, but still speaking to us. God is still assuring us, telling us not to be afraid, and strengthening us. Indeed, it is dangerous to take risk but he who takes risk in the Lord, will be vindicated.
According to Pope Benedict XVI, in the name "Emmanuel," we find the answer to humanity's deepest longings for God throughout the ages. Emmanuel is both a prayer and plea (on our behalf) and a promise and declaration on God's part. When we pronounce the word, we are really praying and pleading: "God, be with us!" And when God speaks it, the almighty, eternal, omnipresent Creator of the world is telling us: "I am with you" in this Child.
In today’s Second Reading, Paul adds a further dimension to who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish. “Jesus is the Son of God in the power according to the spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:14). Through his resurrection from the dead, Christ is given the mission to sanctify men. Paul’s own personal experience of Jesus says it all when he says “But those things I used to consider gain I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ. For his sake I have forfeited everything, I have accounted all else rubbish so that Christ may be my wealth… I wish to know Christ and the power flowing from his resurrection…” (Philippians 3:7-10). The Emmanuel presupposes that we give up all for the sake of Christ.

Like Paul, we too are called to give up everything for the sake of Jesus this Christmas. Do you have a room in your heart for Jesus? There was no room for Jesus except the manger bed that faithful Christmas day. Make your hearts ready for Jesus this Christmas and your life will never be the same again.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises. He saves us from our sins; he sanctifies us, he is God with us. If Jesus is God with us, then who is Jesus to you? What difference does he make in the way you lead your life?
In conclusion, may God grant both you and me the change of heart to reply with all conviction and sincerity: Jesus is the answer. This week, let us learn to listen to God as we pray. And when we get an answer, even if it is different than we expected, we need to trust in God, unlike Ahaz, and act on it. All through Advent we have been called to prepare for his coming, to rid ourselves of the things getting in the way of our relationship with God. Let us ponder, meditate and pray. Joseph listened to the angel and allowed God to enter into our world with grace and care.





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