4th Sunday of Advent - A - Sunday, December 21, 2025 (EPISODE-561)
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1417111835 - FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 11, 2019: Altarpiece of saint Joseph the Worker, by Pietro Annigoni in the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor - Zvonimir Atletic
4th Sunday of Advent - A - Sunday, December 21, 2025 (EPISODE-561 )
Readings for Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 4th Sunday of Advent - A
FIRST READING: Isa 7:10-14
Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6. "Let the Lord enter, he is king of glory"
SECOND READING: Rom 1:1-7
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 1:23). Alleluia, alleluia! The virgin will give birth to a son; his name will be Emmanuel: God-is-with-us. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Matt 1:18-24
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1417111835 - FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 11, 2019: Altarpiece of Saint Joseph the Worker, by Pietro Annigoni in the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor - Zvonimir Atletic
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for the 4th Sunday of Advent - A - Sunday, December 21, 2025, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-561 (EPISODE-561)
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Prologue:
Our time of Advent waiting is almost over. The excitement and the beauty of this Christmas Feast are so close, only a couple of days away, now.
God has entered human history definitively and miraculously. And through "God with us," we are saved.
It puts me in mind of the words of this hymn:
HYMN
Suggested tune: Bishopthorpe or St Flavian tre: CM
The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills,
And life to joy awakes.
0 brighter than that glorious morn
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, our King, in beauty comes,
And we his face shall see.
The King shall come when morning dawns,
And earth's dark night is past;
0 haste the rising of that morn,
The day that ever shall last.
(P.339, Magnificat DEC 2019: vol 10; no.2).
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Special Reflection by Seminarian Oliver Bajon:
My name is Oliver Bajon, and this is the fourth Sunday of Advent homily. It is my great honour and privilege to be delivering this homily, as Father Paul has asked me to deliver it. I'm a first-year seminarian with the Holy Spirit Seminary in Banyo, and I'm currently on my pastoral placement here in Surfers Paradise.
As we draw very close to Christmas, today's readings invite us to pause and to contemplate how God chooses to come among us, and how we are asked to respond to this. In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we hear about the Jewish king Ahaz. He undoubtedly found himself in a difficult situation.
Jerusalem itself was being threatened by a serious enemy threat, and it was necessary to organize an effective defence. The king began preparations, but he forgot that the most effective defence was God Himself, who was the true ruler and king of the chosen people Israel. Ahaz refused to acknowledge this, even when he was clearly reminded of this.
He was evasively explaining that he would not test the Lord. In such a situation, the prophet Isaiah intervenes, first addressing words of reproach and admonition to the king, and then announcing a special sign from God. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.
This sign from God is interesting, as it reveals two important figures, the virgin and her son. Their names are not given, but Matthew the Evangelist clearly refers to Christ and his mother. Regarding the woman, the prophet emphasizes that she will be a virgin.
Moreover, she would remain a virgin despite the conception and birth of her son. This was certainly something completely unprecedented, and therefore constitute a true sign of God, and it was fulfilled only in the person of Emmanuel's mother. Let us add immediately that Emmanuel means God with us, so the son of the virgin also received a significant name, which we can fully apply only to the Messiah.
This is the content of that sign, which God Himself announced through the prophet Isaiah. The psalm today, we hear, echoes the invitation, Let the Lord enter, He is the King of glory. But the psalm also asks the question, Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? The answer is simple, and yet challenging.
Those with clean hands and pure hearts. Advent itself is not only a time of waiting, but of preparation, of making room for the Lord to enter more deeply into our very lives. In the second reading, Saint Paul, as it were, takes up this theme and provides further details about Jesus Christ and His work of salvation, so that we may consider it carefully as we prepare for Christmas.
Firstly, the apostle recalls, in general terms, that God foretold the Messiah through the prophets in the holy scriptures. There is no doubt that He is also the prophet Isaiah in mind, as he gave us the most details about the Messiah in his prophetic speeches. Saint Paul further explains that the Messiah, according to the flesh, comes from the lineage of David, but is not only a man, but the powerful Son of God, our Lord, and therefore the one to whom we are subject, who is our ruler.
Matthew, on the other hand, directly points not only to the Messiah, announced by the prophets, but also to His mother. The evangelist provides the opportunity for this in his description of the details preceding the birth of the Lord Jesus, beginning with the clear words introducing the listener to the narrative. As for the birth of Jesus Christ, it was thus.
From Matthew's account, we learn of the betrothal of the Blessed Mother to Saint Joseph. The betrothal referred to here could also refer to a betrothal contract, which began a period typically lasting around a year. Indeed, the context seems to indicate that the evangelist is speaking of an engagement that also obligated mutual fidelity.
It was during this period that Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph himself did not yet know this mystery, but at the same time, being a just man and not wanting to cast unfounded accusations against his betrothed, whom he considered above suspicion, he intended to choose a path that would protect Mary's good name. Therefore, he did not formally accuse her of adultery, which was punishable by stoning in Jewish tradition, but he simply intended to break off the engagement, giving the betrothed's father a certificate of divorce, restoring the bride's freedom.
However, God prevented such a step and informed Joseph of this extraordinary secret. He chose a special way for this. He sent his angel, who not only explained to Joseph the mystery of Mary's virginal conception, but also granted him the right to name the child born later.
She will bear a son, and you shall name his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Joseph, in accordance with the angel's command, welcomed Mary into his home and respected her virginity. Thus, the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah, which we heard in the first reading, was fulfilled.
As we stand on the threshold of Christmas, the question before us is this, will we, like Joseph, allow God to enter in ways we do not expect? Will we trust that God is at work, even when we do not fully understand? The good news of today is that God does not remain distant. He comes close. He enters our uncertainty, our fear, and our ordinary lives.
He comes as Emmanuel, God with us. May these final days of Advent help us to listen more attentively, to trust more deeply, to welcome Christ with open hearts, so that when he comes, he may truly find a home within us. As we await the birth of your son, help us, like Joseph, to trust in your word and to welcome your presence with open hearts.
Make us ready to receive Emmanuel, so that Christ may dwell among us and within us. Amen.
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References:
Seminarian Oliver Bajon
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1417111835 - FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 11, 2019: Altarpiece of Saint Joseph the Worker, by Pietro Annigoni in the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor - Zvonimir Atletic
4th Sunday of Advent - A (Sunday, December 21, 2025) EPISODE-561
The Lord be with you.
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{{I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of his compassion and love.}}
Our God's love and mercy know no bounds, and so let us recall our sins to celebrate this Holy Sacrifice worthily.
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6. "Let the Lord enter, he is king of glory"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 1:23). Alleluia, alleluia! The virgin will give birth to a son; his name will be Emmanuel: God-is-with-us. Alleluia!
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Advent II
Eucharistic Prayer I
(theme variation: 4)
(welcome cycle- (welcome 7) Good evening/morning. It is wonderful to gather together as members of God's family. Parishioners and visitors alike. We are all united as Our lord's family. We hope you feel very welcome. Please ensure that your mobile devices are switched off or set to silent. Our Presider tonight/today is Fr………………………… Please stand as we sing our entrance hymn: "__________" *)
(pre+post variation: v2-long)
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{I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of his compassion and love.}
Go forth, the Mass is ended.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: Subscribe to mailing list to keep up-to-date.
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
"O Come. Lord. (Advent) HYMN" - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly. Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons" of Advent.
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, by Stefan Kelk, 2020.
Quiet reflection music and hymn - Original musical composition by William John kelly (1942-2017)
Lyrics based on the Song of Praise by the Three Young Men, The Book of Daniel 3:24-9. By Paul kelly.
Arranged and sung, and with adapted lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2021
[ Production - KER - 2025]
May God bless and keep you.
Extra Text: unspoken for Advent: -
Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.
"The Psalms" by The Grail - 1963, 2009.
Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray" - (1993) .+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
