Reflection on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 7:10-14 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24

Put on your reading glasses and take another look at the Scriptures for today. You will see how early in content they are in the various books of Scripture. Isaiah, Paul and Matthew’s words are inviting us to prepare ourselves to receive the Holy One, the Messiah, into our lives. 

What do we discover in these readings? Signs about God, I think, that move us deeper into faith. Signs that lead us to the greatest sign of all, in which the promises of the history to Israel have been fulfilled. God made human comes among us, Emmanuel.

Today’s readings call us to look at what we desire. Maybe our deepest desires are really God’s desires for us! In the first reading Isaiah says to the people, “Is it not enough to weary each other, do you have to weary God too?” There is no fuzzy sign to be found there. And Paul reminds the Roman community — straight, flat out: “You are called to belong to Jesus Christ. You have the grace of apostleship.” And then in the story from Matthew’s community of Jesus’ birth, we read about Joseph, who is guided in his dream, and is called to take Mary into his home.

Advent has been called “a season of dreams.” Little girls and boys dream of beautiful Christmas trees surrounded by toys. Parents dream of days off work, to enjoy these holy and busy days, teachers dream of resting, and, you get it, nuns used to dream of time to bake Christmas cookies. At least we used to.

Scripture is filled with wonder, especially as it tells of dreams and visions. We read of Joseph’s dreams – both learning that Mary, his wife, was expecting and then in another dream Joseph is warned of the intent of King Herod to destroy all male children, to prevent one of them from replacing him as king. Dreams have come to many in Scripture as divine guidance. The question for us today is – do we let ourselves dream? Do we pay attention to our dreams? Do we reflect on life as Joseph did.”Do not be afraid to choose life over law.” The Word of God gave birth within Joseph as well as to Mary.

I heard PJ Manion say in a workshop a long time ago, “The content of our dream consciousness could prompt us to a deeper knowledge of self and ultimately God.”

Advent is a time when our capacity to dream is awakened once more – not as we did as children at Christmas but as mature holy dreamers. PJ also said, 

”We may be surprised when we become our dream.”

A dream may take you into a new vision of self, as it did Joseph, or give you new energy to listen to your better angels who simply say, as Paul did in the second reading today, “You are called to belong to Jesus. You are called to be holy.”

This Advent, our dreams could be filled with self-knowledge, wonder and praise. The angel messengers might inspire us as they did Joseph, the shepherds, Zechariah, Mary and the Wise Travelers from the East. Be ready to be amazed!

“The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.”