Homily for the 4^th Sunday in Advent: December 23, 2007

Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.

Today the Church lifts up for us the words of Isaiah: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. Matthew embraces these prophetic words in his gospel to describe the conception and birth of Jesus and reminds us that the name Emmanuel means “God is with us.” The God who is with us in Jesus is the God of justice, the God of mercy and the God of fidelity. We know this from the words of Jesus from His major discourse later in Matthew before His passion, death and resurrection.

The God of justice is not severe, but a God who gently rains down the grace of Jesus Christ upon the earth so that the earth will be fruitful and productive of justice. The world needs a savior because it is parched with war, corruption, starvation, terror and human servitude. Two weeks ago I was overwhelmed by a photo in the newspaper of a desperately hungry child in the Congo where the people in the thousands were fleeing from the violence of war. Advent says prepare the way of the Lord by giving us sincere hearts and consciences that will not be at peace until justice reigns on the face of the earth.

The God of mercy is a God of comfort. All we have to do is acknowledge our sins, turn to God and change the way we live to find the forgiving God. If we do not confess our sins and acknowledge our need for redemption then Christmas is an empty feast of glitter, consumerism, and shallow greetings. God has entered our human condition in the person of Jesus so that we might find the true meaning of life, a purpose for why we exist. God is with us in all our human experiences to comfort us and sustain us as we make the journey to resurrection and eternal life.

The God of fidelity is a God who is ever faithful to His people. God never abandons us, no matter what. God is extraordinarily patient until we find the way to salvation. The sun shines on the just and the unjust. The weeds grow along with the wheat. That is why God alone is judge and we dare not judge until all the votes are in at the end of time. “Have faith in God and faith in me,” Jesus said.

The Fourth Sunday in Advent is the final word in preparation for the coming of Christ in the celebration of Christmas and ultimately the coming of Christ at the end of time which begins in our death. We must be prepared for the Son of Man comes at an hour we do not expect. We need to stay awake. The God of justice will be looking for justice in the world. The God of mercy will be looking for conversion and forgiveness. The God of fidelity will be looking for a faithful people. Will God find us ready? Will God find any faith on the earth? If we welcome Christ in the celebration of Christmas and sincerely embrace the gospel we can have great hope, for ourselves and for the world.

Last Update January 2, 2008