Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A – Dec 22, 2019

Readings: Is 7:10-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2,3-4,5-6; 

Rom 1:1-7 & Gospel Mat 1:18-24.

Theme: The Emmanuel Effect!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today is the last Sunday of Advent and apparently, the climax of four weeks of intense preparation for the Lord’s nativity. The Prophet Isaiah (Is 7:10-14) brings us glad tidings that a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son who shall be named Emmanuel. Isaiah’s prophecy is amplified in the gospel (Mat 1:18-24) which presents the circumstances leading to the saviour’s birth culminating in naming him, Emmanuel – God is with us. Our reflection is based on the Emmanuel-Effect in the light of God’s omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience.

Background and Summary of the Readings

In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah (Is 7:10-14) brings glad tidings to the House of David that a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son who shall be named Emmanuel – a name which means “God is with us.” In the second reading (Rom 1:1-7), St. Paul reminds us that we have received the grace of apostleship to bring the obedience of faith to all who are called to be holy. He also indicates that we are all called to be saints.

Isaiah’s prophecy is amplified in the gospel (Mat 1:18-24) which presents the circumstances leading to the saviour’s birth culminating in naming him, Emmanuel – God with us. It further relates that when he found out that his betrothed, Mary was pregnant, he did not want to expose her publicly. Since he was a righteous man, Joseph decided to divorce her quietly. By doing what as honourable, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and urged him to take Mary as his wife stressing that she was with child through the Holy Spirit. We are told that when Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord had commanded him in a dream by taking his wife into his home. 

Emmanuel Effect: Implications

1. He came and was born in a manger in Bethlehem over thousand years ago – that is why we refer to him as the God who was...

2. He assured that he would go and prepare a place for us so that where he is, we too may be. This means that he would come again in Glory at the Parousia. Until then, his abiding presence is ever with us – that is why we say he is omnipresent. 

3.  In between Bethlehem and the Glory, he comes to us spiritually at every Christmas. This underscores the Emmanuel Effect – that is why we say he is transcendent yet imminent.  

4. When a person dies, Christ has come for him or her – This is epitomised in the assurance given to the good thief “Today you will be with me in paradise.” It is in the Omniscient God that we live and move and have our being – That is why we refer to him as he author and finisher of our lives.

5. Christ comes to us in the sacraments. The Emmanuel Effect reminds us about Christ’s abiding presence in the seven sacraments – that is why we refer to him as Emmanuel.  

Pastoral Application and Lessons

1. God is Omnipresent: Although he is not physically present with us as he was over two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, however, his spirit is at work in the Church and among believers - that is why today’s Emmanuel-Effect in the first reading reveals God’s abiding presence among us.

2. He is Ever-Present in the Sacraments: We are reminded that God’s abiding in the sacraments gives us new life, provides us with the bread of life, confirms our faith, grants us healing, forgives our sins and raises ministerial priests to shepherd the Church as well as unites man and woman to adorn the domestic Church with the jewels of offspring.

3. Embrace His Presence: As evident in Paul’s call to holiness in the second reading, we are called to allow God’s presence to be felt in our private and public lives through living out the Emmanuel-Effect even as we approach Christmas.  

4. God is Omnipotent:  God’s omnipotence assures us of his influence over our lives and his supremacy over the forces of evil which seek to kill and destroy (Cf. Eph 3:20). If we are under the umbrella of God, no rain of evil shall touch wet us – Besides, he is able to do much more than we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). 

5. Feel the Emmanuel-Effect: This season demands that we allow the Emmanuel-Effect be felt in our lives in such a manner that God takes absolute control of every word and deed of ours.

6. Situate God Around Every Circumstance: We are charged to situate God around every circumstance we find ourselves in otherwise his coming would lose its meaning.  

7. God is Omniscient: The Emmanuel-Effect reminds us that God knows every condition we are in and he is sure going to intervene to bring us succour.

8. Invite the Holy Spirit into Your Life: Since he is all knowing, the fourth Sunday of Advent calls us to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives bearing in mind that the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit.

9. Trust in God’s Plan: Mary and Joseph who prepared for the Lord’s nativity trusted in God’s plan for their lives while allowing the spirit to direct their path - We too, ought to trust our present and future plans to God.

10. Cooperate With the Will of God: This Sunday challenges us to put our lives side by side the first family which planned for the Saviour’s birth and see how each member of that family cooperated with the will of God for their lives – indeed, he is able to take care of our needs (Psalm 55:22). 

11. Emulate Joseph: We are encouraged to emulate Joseph by following the path of honour, righteousness and obedience to the will of God as he toed.

Homiletic Points to Remember

1. In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah brings glad tidings to the House of David that a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son…

2. In the second reading St. Paul reminds us that we have received the grace of apostleship.

3. Isaiah’s prophecy is amplified in the gospel which presents the circumstances leading to the saviour’s birth.

4. Since he was a righteous man, Joseph decided to divorce her quietly.

5. When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord had commanded him in a dream by taking his wife into his home.

Conclusion

As we prepare for Christmas, we too must entrust our cares unto the Lord trusting that he would take care of our needs (Psalm 55:22). As Christmas approaches, we ought to learn from Joseph’s School of virtue and discipleship. May our preparation for Christmas allow us to draw some lessons of the Emmanuel Effect in a way that God’s presence is felt in our hearts, lives and world. Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent!