HOMILY FOR 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT SEASON
THEME OF THE HOMILY: ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.
READINGS OF THE DAY
2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16
Psalm 88:2-5,27,29
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
LITURGICAL COLOUR
PURPLE
INTRODUCTION
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the last Sunday of Advent which is the fourth Sunday in the season of Advent of Year B. This year is very special liturgically, because we had the shortest Advent ever, hence, this Fourth Sunday of Advent is immediately followed by Christmas, which begins just this evening with the Christmas Vigil Mass.
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THE FORTH CANDLE
Having reflected on the Aspects of Hope, Peace and Joy in the previous three Sundays of Advent, today we all focus on the Aspect of Love. Reminding us of the Love of God for us and challenging each one of us to share the same love to one another.
FROM OUR FIRST READING
In our first reading this Sunday, we heard of how the Lord told His servant, King David who ruled over the whole people of God, through the prophet Nathan that He would make his reign secure and He would provide for him and his house, that the reign of David and his successors would be everlasting, and the House of David would indeed rule forever over the whole people of God. God also reassured David that He would take care and look after His people Israel, guiding and shepherding them down the right path.
FROM OUR SECOND READING
Glory to God, who strengthens us through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, revealing long-hidden mysteries, now shared with all nations to foster obedience of faith.
FROM OUR GOSPEL READING
In the gospel reading, Mary displays a great openness to receiving God’s loving choice of her. Even though she does not fully understand how she could be so highly favoured by God, she welcomes this grace of God’s favour. She, thereby, opened a space in her life for God’s mysterious but loving purposes to prevail. Perhaps this is where we have something to learn from Mary. We can learn from her to allow ourselves to be graced by the Lord who has chosen us in his love and who relates to us as highly favoured. In whatever personal circumstances we find ourselves, our response to God’s loving choice of us can find no better expression than Mary’s final response to Gabriel, ‘Let what you have said be done to me.
CONCLUSION
God continues to work powerfully and creatively through each of us, when we respond to his call and his promptings. Mary gave birth to God’s Son for others. As we approach the feast of Christmas we ask Mary to help each of us in our own way to give birth to God’s Son for others.
The Lord be with You.
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