4th Sunday of Advent Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima
Theme: Emmanuel: God is always with us in times of confusion and threat
Readings: (1st: Ish 7, 10–14; Ps: 23, 1–6; 2nd: 1, 1- 7; Gos: Mtt 1, 18–24)
Dear friends in Christ, we are gradually approaching the end of the season of advent. The readings of this fourth week will shift attention from the intense call for repentance and penance to the scene of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem; they will centre on the events that surrounded the historic birth of our Messiah.
As we prepare ourselves for the joyful celebration of the historic birth that changed the course of our world, the church did not lose sight of the challenges we face every day of our lives. Thus, the church uses this fourth Sunday to remind us that the Messiah whose birth we are about to celebrate is always with us in all difficulties and confusions, that His name is Emmanuel — God with us — and that His mission is to save those who trust in Him from all that threaten their existence. This awareness of the character of our Emmanuel is very necessary because many people have the tendency of forgetting the power of this Saviour, the Emmanuel, anytime they are surrounded with problems; many people look elsewhere for solutions whenever they are threatened by problems, forgetting that our Saviour, the Emmanuel, is capable of rescuing them from all problems or directing them on the right path. The first reading and the gospel of today have clear lessons on this reliance on God in times of threats and confusions.
In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Syria were planning an attack against the King of Assyria who had taken control of their kingdoms. They asked Ahaz, the King Judah, the Southern kingdom of Israel, to join them in that attack, but he refused. So, they threatened that they will invade Judah and overthrow King Ahaz. While Ahaz was thinking of a possible way to save his kingdom from imminent attacks from the kings of Syria and Israel, the prophet Isaiah approached him and asked him to trust in the power of God, whose Holy Temple is in Judah, that this God will protect Judah from all enemies. But king Ahaz could not trust God’s promises of protection, he rather wanted to make an alliance with the king of Assyria for protection against his enemies — the kings of Israel and Syria. Confident that God would protect Judah from her enemies, Isaiah told Ahaz to have faith in God and not ally himself to Assyria. It was in the midst of Ahaz’s doubt of God’s power of protection that Isaiah told him to ask God for a sign, a sign that will convince him of God’s protection over Judah. But out of fear, Ahaz refused to ask for a sign; he was hell bent on following his own heart desires and plans, which was to make an alliance with the king of Assyria and their pagan god. Then, Isaiah announced a sign from God for Ahaz. He prophesized that a virgin will give birth to a son, whose name will be Emmanuel — God is with us -, a sign to assure the people of Judah that God was really with them and would not abandon them to the power of their enemies. Ahaz finally made an alliance with Assyrians and began to worship the pagan god of Assyria. He also sacrificed his son to the Assyrian god.
With this biblical event, the church reminds all of us of the character and power of the one whose birthday we are about to celebrate. His name is Emmanuel, a God who does not abandon his people in times of difficulties and threats. In our problems, sicknesses, disappointments and pains, He is always with us to keep us strong and rescue us, because His name is Emmanuel — God is with us.
In the gospel of today, we are presented with the image of Joseph whose plan of settling down in marriage with Mary was hit by great confusion when he discovered that Mary was pregnant already. While Joseph was thinking of how to handle the difficult situation of his planned marriage with Mary, God’s angel appeared to him in the dream and instructed him on what to do. Joseph trusted in God and obeyed God’s directives.
When you place Ahaz and Joseph side by side, you would see a stark contrast. While Ahaz doubted God’s power and refused to obey God’s directives in his difficult situations, Joseph trusted God in his own confusions and obeyed God’s directives. While Ahaz sacrificed his son to the pagan god of the Assyrians to seal an alliance with them, Joseph saved his own wife and son, the Emmanuel, from all human threats. So we are called to have confidence in God, especially in the most difficult moments of our lives. The name of our God is Emmanuel — He will always be with us. Although we may face financial problems, job insecurity, family problems, and health concerns, let us be confident in God like Joseph. Instead of relying on our own schemes to get us through life, which at the end will lead us into more problems as it happened to Ahaz, let us open ourselves to the will of God, trusting in Him and following His own directives for us; let us be strengthened by talking to God in fervent prayer and by listening to Him speaking through the Bible.
Today, Matthew tells us that the ancient prophesy made by Isaiah of a God who will always be with us was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Therefore, dear friends, we are about to celebrate the birth of God who is both transcendent and immanent, a God who is high above us but is always with us, a God who will not abandon us in our needs, confusions, threats and whatever gives us discomfort, because his name is Emmanuel — the God who is with us always.
Peace be with you.
Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima