Fourth Sunday of Advent

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. In today's Gospel from Saint Matthew we hear the story of Joseph receiving the revelation that his betrothed wife is not only not an adulteress but is the mother of the miraculously conceived Messiah!

Christ came to Joseph in Mary, but unperceiving he sought to put her (and consequently Him) away quietly. When Joseph "took his wife into his home" he also opened his home and his life to the Baby she was carrying. This wasn't the way Joseph expected the Messiah to come! Sure, the Messiah was going to come someday to save Israel, but Joseph didn't expect the Messiah to come to him as a little Baby in need of care, protection, and training!

The almighty God comes to us as a little baby!  Our sense of wonder has perhaps been dulled to this amazing reality by the repetition of years, by the adorable little babies in quaint Nativity scenes, by the well-worn stories of His birth. But, let's look on these events today with a new set of eyes, with Joseph's eyes. Let us experience what he and Mary must have experienced at the revelation of the Messiah--shock, terror, joy, wonder!

God is coming to His people not as an all-powerful warrior to conquer Rome and set up His terrestrial kingdom but as a little baby to conquer the hearts of all peoples and establish His eternal Kingdom within them! Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus!

Mary, did you know That your baby boy is lord of all creation? Did you know That your baby boy will one day rule the nations? Did you know That your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb? This sleeping child you're holding Is the great I Am -[Lyrics from 'Mary did you know?' Written by Lowry, Mark/Greene, Buddy]