By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB
Christmas is days away, and the readings of the fourth Sunday of Advent are clear about who this Child to be born is. The Entrance Antiphon speaks of Him as God, Just One, Savior, the Messiah.
The Old Testament reading establishes for us that Jesus is truly of David’s line, that God is His Father, that Jesus is His Son, and that His Kingdom will last forever. The Psalm continues and calls Jesus the Kindness and Goodness of God and confirms that it is through Jesus that David’s throne (His rule) will last through all generations to the end of time. Each of these revelations give us much to think of regarding the nature of Jesus.
St. Paul in his reading immediately proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, that is, the anointed of God, the long-awaited Messiah; and that Jesus is sent “To all nations to bring about obedience of Faith to the only wise God.” Jesus obeyed we must obey. It is through Jesus and His obedience that forever we are enabled to give glory to God. The Child whose birth we await does all of that for us.
The opening prayer, the Collect, of today’s Mass, is that of the Angelus we say three times a day, “The Angel of the Lord Declared unto Mary.” The Gospel gives details to explain what Mary is being asked to do. She is to become a mother, her baby will be a boy, and He shall be called Jesus. Both Mary and Joseph were told by the Angel to name their child Jesus, that is, Savior, for He who will be born is, sent by the Father to save us.
Then the angel spokesperson of the Most High God adds more for Mary about Jesus, “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.” During His life, when He lovingly called God, Father, He was only fulfilling God’s will, spoken in prophecy to Mary by the Angel. The Child Jesus also fulfilled the promise made by the Prophet Samuel to David that One would come to assume His throne forever.
When we utter The Holy Name of Jesus in prayer, God be praised, we truly are accepting many things revealed about the person and character of Jesus.
May the Christ Child be glorified and praised forever!