God's Word for 4th Sunday in Advent

Sunday 23 December 2012

4th Sunday of Advent C

Micah 5:1-4 Psalm 79:2-3. 15-16. 18-19 Rv.4 Hebrews 10:: 5-10 Luke 1:39-44.

Out of you, Bethlehem, least of the clans, will be born the one to rule over Israel.

Let your face shine on us and we will be saved.

God here I am. I am coming to do your will.

Blessed is she who believed that the promise by the Lord would be fulfilled.

First reading

Micah 5:1-4

The Lord says this:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

the least of the clans of Judah,

out of you will be born for me

the one who is to rule over Israel;

his origin goes back to the distant past,

to the days of old.

The Lord is therefore going to abandon them

till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.

Then the remnant of his brothers will come back

to the sons of Israel.

He will stand and feed his flock

with the power of the Lord,

with the majesty of the name of his God.

They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power

to the ends of the land.

He himself will be peace.

We should not think that the prophets heard God speaking to them and then they wrote down what he said. They are no different from us except that they were men of deep prayer. In their prayer they listened to the inspiration of God, just as we can. The Messiah is going to be the Son of David. Micah actually talks of the origin of the Messiah. The birth place of David was Bethlehem and so the origin of the Messiah is Bethlehem. Later tradition saw Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. The Early Christians saw how this Word of God was fulfilled in Jesus. The prophet exhorts his fellow countrymen to come to the Messiah. The important thing is not where Jesus was born but that we come to him so that he can give us the food of life and we can enjoy the peace that only he can bring. At Christmas we will find Jesus in a manager, a place where food is found for cattle. Jesus is the shepherd of his flock..

Psalm

Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hear us,

shine forth from your cherubim throne.

O Lord, rouse up your might,

O Lord, come to our help.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

God of hosts, turn again, we implore,

look down from heaven and see.

Visit this vine and protect it,

the vine your right hand has planted.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

May your hand be on the man you have chosen,

the man you have given your strength.

And we shall never forsake you again;

give us life that we may call upon your name.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

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Second reading

Hebrews 10:5-10

This is what Christ said, on coming into the world:

You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation,

prepared a body for me.

You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin;

then I said,

just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book,

‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’

Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.

Jesus is truly man. He is the model for every human being. Notice what he says. God does not want animal sacrifices. God never wanted them. What is the value of killing a dumb animal? God wants our love and in love our obedience. Jesus came to do God’s will. He is his Father. Because of Jesus, our elder Brother, God sanctifies us. Are you obedient to God in love?

Gospel Acclamation

Lk1:38

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the handmaid of the Lord:

let what you have said be done to me.

Alleluia!

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Gospel

Luke 1:39-44

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

Blessed are the poor in spirit

There is no need to fear. God’s ways are not human ways. He does not look on human beings as we do. He can mightily bless you – it all depends on you. From God’s point of view, the matter is closed. He desires to pour his blessings on you at every moment of day and night and throughout your life. Bethlehem of Ephrata – where was that? It was a small village near Jerusalem. Mary, who was she? She was a village girl from Nazareth. Elizabeth? An old person living in the hill country of Judea. All were insignificant in the eyes of the world. Yet God chose them. He has chosen you too. He chose you in Christ before the world was made (Eph 1:3) He may not have chosen you for some public and dynamic role, but he has chosen you, small and insignificant though you may be, to be the object of His love and favour. He wants to be close to you, to carry you in times of peril and give you a blissful life. Now he waits for you as once he waited for Mary. What will you say? Everything is in your hands and depends on your response. He comes to you in Christ to make you leap with joy.

 What do you say? If you fail to respond, he will in no way be angry. He will not punish you for it. He will only be saddened and disappointed. ‘There is another one who misses the opportunity and prefers to struggle all alone, suffering the hardships of human life’. He is helpless to do anything for you because you have turned away. He will continue to wait.

However, you can also respond as Jesus responded to His Father’s call. ‘Father you don’t want empty rituals and offerings. Here I am. I open myself to you, to listen to your Word’. The Father is still searching for those who will worship in spirit and in truth. Simply going to church, temple, or mosque is of no use. Mouthing some prayers or offering some ritual offering has no value in God’s eyes. It is your heart that he wants and that is all he wants and he wants the whole of it.

In your spirit turn to God who lives within you, open your ear and do not harden your heart and then like Elijah (1 Kings 19:12) you may hear him speaking to you.

His Word will be a word of peace. You will not have a charmed life free of ills and tragedies. You will have a life similar to everyone else’s, but the more you open yourself, the more you will experience his gentle touch. He will be your strength and lift you when you fall (Prov.24:17)

Father, may I come to know you as Abba, a loving and tender Father in heaven.