The Fourth Sunday of Advent. Today we light the final Advent candle. Christmas is just around the corner! And the readings reflect this. In fact, the Gospel reading today is exactly the same as yesterday. (You can read my reflection on Joseph for more.)
There is quite a bit of division within Christianity these days. Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox all have different takes, small and large, on doctrine and beliefs. But there are a few things that are believed by all Christians. One of these is the Virgin Birth. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, was born of a virgin. Why did this have to be? I mean, couldn’t God have brought His son into the world through normal marital relations between a couple? Of course He could have.
But it was foretold from of old that “the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” We find this prophesy in Isaiah 7. And we hear it read again today in the first reading at Mass. God chose to be a Father to His Son not only in a spiritual sense, but in the physical, too. Jesus it truly the Son of God.
Father, thank you for sending your Son into the world through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Help us to always stay close to Him. Amen.
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