HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A. (21ST DECEMBER, 2025) скачать в хорошем качестве

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A. (21ST DECEMBER, 2025)

This is your usual programme: 'GOD IS WITH YOU' by your humble servant, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Bartholomew Koroma, CSSp. A member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers, commonly known as Spiritans. I am your humble servant, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Bartholomew Koroma, CSSp. A member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers, commonly known as Spiritans. The fourth candle we have lit today represents love, especially God’s unconditional love for humanity, revealed most fully in the coming of Jesus Christ. As Christmas draws very near, this candle emphasizes that the birth of Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s love entering the world. The Incarnation, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The first reading is from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 7:10-14. In this reading, God offers King Ahaz a sign to reassure him amid a political and military crisis. Although Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign, disguising his fear as piety, God gives one anyway. Isaiah announces that a virgin will conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, meaning “God is with us.” This sign assures the house of David that God remains present with His people and will not abandon them despite their fear and lack of faith. The Second Reading is coming from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans 1:1-7. Here, Paul identifies himself as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, called and set apart to proclaim the Good News of Salvation or the Gospel. This Gospel, promised beforehand in the Scriptures, centres on Jesus Christ, who is descended from David according to the flesh and declared Son of God in power through the resurrection. Our Gospel reading today, from Matthew 1:18-24, recounts the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. Mary, who is engaged to Joseph, is found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, described as righteous, plans to divorce her quietly to avoid public shame. An angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, explaining that the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and instructing Joseph to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.