Friends, last Sunday we celebrated “Gaudete” Sunday, and the church encouraged us to rejoice because our Lord is near. On this fourth and last Sunday of Advent season Year C. The readings of this Sunday, help us prepare for Christmas by reflecting on God’s promise, the importance of humble beginnings, obedience to His will, and recognizing Jesus in our daily lives. As we approach the celebration of Jesus’ birth, let us open our hearts to these lessons and live them out every day. Lord, help us to see Your presence in our daily lives. Guide us to be humble and obedient to Your will. May we recognize and welcome Jesus in every moment.
Friends, in Micah’s time the political, social, and economic situation of the people of Israel was disastrous. Violence was widespread and evident, court judges were corrupt, priests and prophets were only busy making money, and an arrogant minority had taken hold of all fields and exploited the farmers and peasants. King Hezekiah was a good man, but had no leadership or governing ability; he could not control things. What was the cause of their mistakes? In the first place pride, and then their conviction that they could do without the Lord. They had forgotten that they had not become kings out of any merit or power of their own, but God had transformed a humble shepherd into a great king.
Friends, the first reading of today from Micah, speaks of a ruler coming from Bethlehem. This small town does not seem important, yet it is chosen by God. This teaches us that God often works through humble beginnings. Bethlehem is not a grand city, but it becomes the birthplace of Jesus. This shows that greatness can come from small and simple places. We are reminded that God values humility and often chooses what the world might overlook. God’s promise to send a ruler from Bethlehem shows His faithfulness. He keeps His promises, no matter how small the beginnings. We can trust that God has a plan for each one of us, even if it starts in humble places.
Friends, the words of Micah are an invitation to hope. A future of justice and peace is in store for humankind, but if we want this salvation to manifest itself, we must reject human logic and stop putting trust in the power of arms, or the alliance with the mighty, in the power of money, or use of violence. The first reading of today encourages us to see the potential in our humble beginnings. We should not be discouraged by small starts but trust that God can do great things through them. By embracing humility and trusting in God’s promises, we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus.
Friends, the second reading of today, highlights Jesus’ obedience to God’s will. In Hebrews, Jesus declares that He came to do what God wanted, not what He wanted. This teaches us the importance of putting God’s will above our desires and plans. Brothers and sisters, Jesus offers Himself as a sacrifice, showing the ultimate act of obedience. This is not just a one-time event but a lifelong commitment to following God’s plan. We are called to follow Jesus’ example by seeking and doing God’s will in our lives. Obeying God can be challenging, especially when it goes against our plans. However, today, we are reminded that true fulfillment comes from aligning our lives with God’s purposes. This obedience leads to a deeper relationship with God and a more meaningful life. Jesus’ obedience encourages us to examine our own lives. Are we willing to sacrifice our desires to follow God’s will? The second reading calls us to commit to this path, preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus through our acts of obedience and faith.
Friends, the gospel of this Sunday presents us with the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Despite her pregnancy, Mary still found time to visit her cousin to share her joy and assist her. This is proof of her spirit of hospitality, generosity, humility, love, and faith in God, who chose her. This is why she is blessed. It was not only Mary who visited Elizabeth but also the Divine Child and Prince of Peace. Hence, this visit was divine. Brothers and sisters, it is important to note that what happened between the child in Mary’s womb and the child in Elizabeth’s womb was a divine encounter. What happened during this divine visit and encounter is what the psalmist describes as; “When love and faithfulness meet together when justice and truth meet; righteousness and peace kiss and embrace each other” (Ps 85, 10). Both Elizabeth and Mary felt and saw it happen spiritually.
Friends, the Gospel of today, reminds us to be always looking for signs of God’s presence in our lives. The Visitation, where Mary visits Elizabeth, is full of joy. Elizabeth recognizes Jesus when her baby, John, leaps in her womb. This moment shows us the importance of being open to God’s presence in everyday moments. Elizabeth could have dismissed her baby’s movement as just another kick. Instead, she saw it as a sign of something bigger. She recognized it as a moment of grace and the closeness of redemption. This teaches us to see God’s hand in small, everyday events.
Friends, Jesus came to us as a baby in Bethlehem, but He also comes to us in our daily lives. If we only see Him in the nativity scene, we miss many moments of grace. We need to be ready to encounter Him in our interactions with each other. Through prayer and the sacraments, we prepare ourselves to recognize and welcome Jesus every day. Brothers and sisters, what we are about to have is a divine encounter with the child Jesus. This encounter will fill us with the Holy Spirit, who will empower us as he empowered Elizabeth. This divine encounter with Christ will bring us transformation, and it will provoke peace and greater joy in our hearts as it did for Elizabeth and the child in her womb.
Friends, soon and very soon, we shall hear a knock at our door and listen to the voice of Mary, the new arc of the covenant bearing the divine child. They are close to us. The fourth Sunday of Advent Year C encourages us to be watchful and open to God’s presence. Like Elizabeth, we should be aware of the signs of grace around us. By doing so, we prepare our hearts for Jesus and experience the joy of His coming, not just at Christmas but every day. The Lord be with you …. May the almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have a Blessed Sunday and a Fruitful New Week to You
I Wish You and Your Family a Very Prayerful Last Sunday of Advent Season Year C
Pray with Us the Online Rosary Every Monday @ 8 pm.
By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
Aka Omuntu Wa Bantu
