Sunday 21 December 2025– IV Sunday of Advent (A)- Rev. Dr. Fr. Patrick Mathias SDB

 

Sunday 21 December 2025– IV Sunday of Advent (A)

Mass Readings: Is 7:10-14   Ps 24   Rom 1:1-7   Mt 1:18-25

Key Verse to Meditate: And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife (Mt 1:24).

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

The Fourth Sunday of Advent presents to us the serene and noble figure of St. Joseph, a man who silently embraced God’s will and thus opened the way for the Messiah to enter the world.

The First Reading from the prophet Isaiah (Is 7:10–14) announces the coming of Immanuel, “God-with-us.” At the appointed moment in history, God chose to draw near to His people through the person of Jesus Christ.

In the Second Reading (Rom 1:1–7), St. Paul, in his greeting to the Roman Christians, acknowledges that he has been called and set apart to proclaim the Gospel—the Good News of salvation accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His mission reminds us that faith is a gift we are entrusted with, a light meant to be shared.

The Gospel (Mt 1:18–25) introduces us to the gentle strength of St. Joseph. Faced with the troubling and unexpected circumstance of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph wrestles within himself. Yet, where faith is present, God’s grace abounds. The Lord does not leave this righteous man in confusion; instead, He sends His angel to reveal the deeper truth hidden within God’s mysterious plan. Joseph listens, trusts, and obeys.

As we enter this final week of Advent, the liturgy invites us to imitate St. Joseph’s quiet attentiveness. We are called to listen with faith, to silence the noise within us, and to welcome God who comes to meet us—through His Word, through the sacraments, and most especially in the person of Jesus Christ.

First Reading

The first reading is taken from the Prophet Isaiah, who is often called the Prophet of the Gospel because of his profound messianic prophecies (7:10–17; 9:1–7; 11:1–9). He is also known as the Prophet of Salvation, for his very name—Isaiah—means “Yahweh saves,” and he speaks of God’s saving work more than any other prophet. As we enter more deeply into the Advent season, today’s reading highlights the prophecy of Immanuel, a name that means “God-with-us.”

The passage from Isaiah (7:10–17) is one of the most significant and most debated texts in both Jewish and Christian traditions. It is treasured in Jewish interpretation for its strong messianic overtones, and it holds a central place for Christians because the evangelist Matthew applies it explicitly to Jesus (Mt 1:23). Of particular interest is verse 14, which Matthew sees as pointing to the divine and Davidic identity of Christ.

The key figure in this oracle is Immanuel. Throughout chapters 7 to 11, the Immanuel figure stands at the heart of Isaiah’s theological message. But who exactly is Immanuel? Is he the son of the prophet or the son of the king? Is Isaiah speaking of an immediate historical figure or a future messianic one? Similarly, who is “the young woman” mentioned in the prophecy? Is she the prophet’s wife, the king’s wife, or a symbolic representation of the messianic community? The use of the definite article (“the young woman”) suggests someone specific. Matthew’s Gospel later identifies the ultimate fulfilment of this prophecy in Mary, the Mother of Jesus (Mt 1:22–23), raising an important question: could Isaiah have foreseen this?

In verse 11, Isaiah speaks of a sign—something extraordinary and divine—that God Himself will provide. In the first part of Isaiah (chapters 1–39), whenever the word “sign” appears, it points to something imminent, an event soon to occur (cf. 8:18; 20:3–4; 37:30; 38:7–8). Thus, Isaiah’s prophecy holds both immediate historical relevance and future theological fulfilment.

The name Immanuel itself is theophoric, containing within it the very name of God. Interestingly, no one in the Old Testament is ever literally called Immanuel. It appears to be more of a theological proclamation: God is with us. Historically, the prophecy is linked to Hezekiah, the son of King Ahaz, who—though never called by this name—fulfilled many of the expectations associated with the Immanuel figure. The oracle, addressed to Ahaz and the house of David, clearly concerns a royal descendant.

Second Reading

The second reading today is taken from the opening of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Rom 1:1–7). These first seven verses serve as Paul’s formal introduction to the Christian community in Rome. In this superscription, Paul identifies himself using the title apostolos—“one who is sent.” Except in Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon, Paul consistently presents himself as an apostle. Here he describes himself as a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God (Rom 1:1).

The Gospel he proclaims concerns God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 1:3–4). Paul emphasizes that his apostleship is not self-appointed; rather, he has been set apart and consecrated by the divine will for the mission of bringing the Good News to the Gentiles. He stands in continuity with those in the Old Testament who were similarly set apart for God’s purposes (cf. 1 Sam 3:1; 1 Kgs 19:16; Jer 20:7).

Paul makes clear that the heart of his mission is to announce the saving mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. Through Christ, he says, “we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake” (Rom 1:5). The goal of his preaching is not personal recognition but the glorification of Christ. Everything Paul does is oriented toward leading others to faith so that the name of Jesus may be exalted.

Addressing the Christians in Rome as “the beloved of God” and “called to be saints,” he greets them in his characteristic manner: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:7). This greeting—which appears throughout his letters (1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Phlm 3)—beautifully combines the Greek wish for charis (grace) and the Hebrew greeting of shalom (peace), capturing the fullness of Christian blessing.

The Gospel Reading

In the fourth week of Advent, the Gospel reading presents God’s intervention in the life of St. Joseph. It is fitting, during this season of preparation, to reflect on the personality and faith of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus.

In today’s Gospel, Joseph is clearly addressed as the “son of David.” This title indicates that the evangelist wants to show that the promise made to Abraham and David is being fulfilled through Joseph at the announcement of the birth of the Saviour, whose reign will have no end. As a human being, Joseph must have struggled greatly to accept that Mary was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit (vv. 18, 20). Perhaps he sensed that the hand of God was at work in this mysterious conception. However, he knew that convincing the public and the religious authorities that nothing improper had occurred would be nearly impossible. Therefore, he decided to dismiss her quietly: “Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly” (Mt 1:19).

The Second Annunciation to Joseph

When God calls a person for His work, He does not leave them in confusion. He comes to guide and strengthen them. The angel of the Lord reassured Joseph and instructed him to take Mary as his wife, even though she was found to be with child before they lived together. God spoke to him in a dream:
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt 1:20–21)

This moment can be called the second annunciation—this time to Joseph. He was told that Mary was under God’s action, and that the child to be born was not an ordinary child but the long-awaited Saviour. Joseph had his own dreams and plans; he certainly contemplated the consequences of saying “yes.” But after hearing the message of the angel, he chose God’s plan over his own. “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife” (Mt 1:24).

The identity of the One to be born—the Son of God—must have moved Joseph to embrace God’s will wholeheartedly. The ancient promise was now ready to be fulfilled. Joseph would have the privilege of naming the Son of God “Jesus.” The greatness of Joseph lies in his obedience: he acted immediately, silently, and faithfully. Without God’s grace, no one can say an unreserved “yes” to the divine plan. Joseph was not only courageous but deeply faith-filled. When the light of faith fills the heart, the darkness of fear and doubt disappears.

May we imitate St. Joseph—whose name, even in the Old Testament, embodies the meaning “one who provides”—a man known for chastity, innocence, and grace. Once he accepted God’s will, he never complained.

Joseph: Epitome of Silence and Prayer

Joseph did everything in silence and prayer. His “yes” to God demanded sacrifice. He had to protect the Child and His Mother from Herod’s murderous plan. He had to carry Christ into Egypt and later bring Him safely back to Nazareth. Joseph embraced his God-given responsibility with grace and deep love for Mary and Jesus.

He served God quietly. He walked in faith. In doing so, he became a worthy successor to the great patriarchs of the Old Covenant—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. True transformation begins with faith, with trusting God and acting on that trust. St. Joseph is the perfect example of this. Truly, he was chosen to be the “guardian of the Word.”

Faith-Filled Doubts

Joseph experienced doubts, but he trusted in the Lord. When God calls someone, He also provides the means necessary to fulfil the mission. Do we believe this? God tests the righteous but lifts them up. Like Joseph, we must bring every doubt to God in prayer. When we trust God’s plan, we receive His guidance, consolation, and reward.

The young carpenter of Nazareth had plans for his life and for his future with Mary. But God had a greater plan—one he could not have imagined. Though he had questions without answers, he surrendered completely. As St. John Chrysostom (347-407 AD) affirms, Joseph is indeed a worthy guardian and foster father of Jesus.

Silent Fidelity

St. Joseph, the guardian of the Word, was chosen by God for his fidelity expressed through silence. Like Joseph of the Old Testament, he was a dreamer-one who listened attentively to God speaking through dreams. In Genesis 37:19, Joseph’s brothers mock him saying, “Look, the dreamer is coming.”

St. Joseph too was a dreamer—not of worldly ambition, but of God’s will and God’s plan for salvation. He dreamt of God’s purposes and allowed those dreams to shape his life. He teaches us never to lose the ability to dream of what God desires for us. Joseph believed God’s message and acted upon it. His vocation was to give Jesus everything a human father could offer: love, protection, a name, and a home.

Points for personal Reflection

Isaiah’s prophecy of Immanuel resonates powerfully during Advent. It assures us that God does not remain distant but chooses to enter human history, to stand with His people, and to guide them through both crisis and hope. Ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, Immanuel is the sign that God walks with us—yesterday, today, and always. As we prepare for Christmas, may this promise strengthen our faith and deepen our longing for the God who comes to dwell among us.

At the beginning of the letter to the Romans, Paul reminds us that the Gospel is not a human invention but God’s eternal plan fulfilled in Jesus Christ. As Advent invites us to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord, these opening verses call us to the “obedience of faith”—a readiness to welcome Christ fully into our lives. Paul’s greeting of grace and peace becomes an Advent invitation: to open ourselves to God’s grace and to allow His peace to shape our waiting, our longing, and our journey toward the celebration of Christ who is Emmanuel, “God-with-us.”

What happened to St. Joseph in the Gospel can also happen to us in our lives: we do not always achieve what we would have wanted. Life does not always give us the attention that we would have liked to have in our lives. When we face something unexpected in our lives, we can rebel, take it out on God and fate, close ourselves in on ourselves. This is what happened to poor Joseph on the longest night of his life. An angel, in a dream, reassures him: what happens is in the heart of God. Can we believe this truth? May the Lord send us a dream in times of difficulty that will help us face every situation, to become, like Joseph, credible witnesses.

May St. Joseph’s example inspire us to surrender our uncertainties to God, to trust His unfolding plan, and to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus, our Immanuel. As we approach Christmas, let us open our lives to the God who draws near, bringing light, hope, and peace to all who believe.

Am I ready to trust the Lord in my most difficult of times?

Am I like St. Joseph, willing to obey and carry out God’s will in my life?

Am I willing to play the second fiddle in my life?