Homily 4th Sunday of Advent Year A I Homily 21 December 2025 Year A

 https://youtu.be/vPSagPI9JXA

My dear friends, on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Scriptures show us how God works

quietly in moments of confusion and fear — both in ancient Judah and in our own lives today.

The readings remind us that even when life feels uncertain or confusing, God is shaping

something far greater than we can see.

The first reading taken from the prophet Isaiah, is set during a very tense moment in Israel’s

history. King Ahaz of Judah was terrified because two neighbouring kingdoms — Aram

(Syria) and Israel (also called Ephraim) — had formed an alliance and were threatening to

attack Jerusalem. The people were shaken, and the king felt trapped. In the middle of this

fear, God sent the prophet Isaiah to encourage Ahaz and tell him not to panic, because God

would not let Jerusalem fall. Through Isaiah, God invited Ahaz to ask for a sign — any sign,

as big or as small as he wanted. But Ahaz refused. He pretended that he didn’t want to “test”

God, but in reality, he simply didn’t trust God. He was already secretly looking to Assyria, a

powerful empire, for help. So, Isaiah rebukes him, saying that if he will not ask for a sign,

God will give one anyway. A young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name

him Immanuel. For King Ahaz and Judah, this sign meant that before this child grew old

enough to know right from wrong, the two threatening kingdoms would be destroyed. The

message was clear: God is in control, and the danger will pass. Christians later see in this

prophecy a deeper meaning that goes beyond Ahaz’s time. The birth of a child who represents

God’s presence becomes a sign of the ultimate way God comes close to humanity — in Jesus.

This text invites us to trust. Like Ahaz, we often choose our own “Assyrias” — our own

solutions, powered by fear. But God’s sign of hope often comes quietly, in unexpected and

humble ways. Isaiah reminds us that even when we cannot see the path ahead, God remains

with us. The promise of Immanuel is still true today: God enters our fear, brings calm in

chaos, and offers a hope stronger than any threat.

In the second reading taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, Paul introduces himself as a

“servant of Christ Jesus,” someone completely dedicated to God. He says he is “called to be

an apostle,” meaning he didn’t choose this job for himself — God chose him and sent him.

His mission is to proclaim the “gospel of God,” the good news that God had promised long

ago through the prophets. This shows that the message of Jesus is not something new or

separate from the Old Testament. It is the continuation and fulfilment of God’s plan. Paul

then explains what the gospel is about: God’s Son, Jesus. He highlights two truths about

Jesus. First, Jesus is a descendant of David according to the flesh — meaning He is truly

human and part of Israel’s story. Second, Jesus is declared to be the Son of God in power

through His resurrection — showing that He is fully divine and victorious over death. These

two sides of Jesus — human and divine — stand at the centre of Christian faith. Paul says

that through Jesus he received “grace and apostleship” to bring people of all nations to the

“obedience of faith.” This means the gospel is for everyone, not just for the Jews. Finally,

Paul greets them with “grace and peace.” Grace is God’s free gift of love; peace is the

wholeness and calm that comes from God. It’s a gentle reminder that the Christian life begins

not with fear or pressure, but with God’s kindness.

When we were setting up the studio I ordered some chairs online. When they arrived, the

parts looked simple enough, so I started assembling the chairs and completed the task easily

however, I realized that the chair was wobbly and one piece was mysteriously left over. After

trying everything possible I finally found the instruction manual and, in all humility, opened

it only to quickly realize I had been fixing the wrong pieces in the wrong places. Once I

followed the manual, everything fit perfectly. The problem wasn’t the chair, it was that I

trusted my own understanding more than the instructions. And the gospel taken from

Matthew gives us a similar story: Joseph had his own plans — but God’s instruction changed

everything.

The gospel tells the story from Joseph’s point of view. In first-century Jewish culture,

betrothal was a binding contract, like marriage minus cohabitation. Mary and Joseph's stage-

one commitment meant divorce was needed to end it legally. From Joseph’s perspective,

nothing makes sense. He knows he is not the father. He could have reacted with anger,

shame, or revenge. Yet Joseph chooses a gentle path. He plans to end the engagement quietly

so that Mary is not humiliated. But God has a different plan — one Joseph could never have

imagined. In a dream, Joseph is asked to do something extremely difficult: to trust God

beyond logic, to believe something that does not fit human understanding, and to give up his

own plans for the sake of God’s plan. Joseph listens and obeys, even when the message is

confusing, even when it risks his reputation, even when it changes the course of his entire

life. His cooperation makes space for God to enter the world. In silently taking Mary as his

wife, he becomes part of the mystery of salvation.

Joseph’s obedience reminds us that God’s plan often does not make sense at first. We like

clarity, control, and security. Joseph had none of these. Yet he chose trust. And because he

trusted, the story of Jesus’ birth could unfold. Joseph teaches us that faith is not only belief —

it is courage in action. If we put ourselves in the place of Joseph, we could feel like asking,

What’s my fault in all of this? Why should I give up my life—reputation, dreams of my own

firstborn, dreams of a "normal" marriage? And this is the message for each of us- quite often

“it’s not about me.” Joseph gives up his own dreams, his comfort, and even his social dignity

so that God’s work can happen. His sacrifice stands beside Mary’s “yes.” Both surrender their

lives out of love, allowing God to work through them. In our lives, we too face moments

when God’s call seems strange or inconvenient. We may feel afraid, uncertain, or unprepared.

Joseph encourages us: listen, trust, and cooperate with God’s whisper in your heart. Even

quiet obedience can lead to extraordinary grace. It could be trusting God when a plan, job, or

relationship changes unexpectedly or saying “yes” to a quiet responsibility that doesn’t seem

glamorous or perhaps cooperating with God even when we don’t feel ready.

Advent calls us to listen, obey, embrace the impossible. As we move closer to Christmas,

may we, like Joseph and Mary, surrender our plans and trust God’s surprising ways. When we

listen, obey, and allow God to lead, Immanuel — God with us — becomes real in our lives

and in our world. This week, ask yourself: What is the one area of my life where God is

inviting me to trust Him more? May God bless us all.