The mystery of Christmas celebrates that the power of God comes to us in a tiny infant. In one simple unassuming sentence, the Christmas mystery is revealed. From the evangelist Luke: “While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.” The power of God comes to us in a tiny infant. God is with us in the Bethlehem infant born to Mary and Joseph.
On this 4th Sunday of Advent we stand at the threshold of Christmas. Our time of preparation for the birth of our Lord is almost complete. Let us pause for a minute – to take a breath, to consider the wonder of Christ coming into our world for us! When we reflect on the wonder and miracle of a new born baby we start to fully comprehend the wonder and love of God. We also see God when we see the love of parents as they gaze on their newborn child. When we see a newborn – we also begin to see a hint of the overwhelming love God holds for each of us. Advent and Christmas remind us about the importance of families. We all belong, we need to embrace families of all kinds. We all belong to a kind of family whether it is traditional, unique, or part of a faith community family! God is present within all and is with us in a special way as we gather together.
In this Advent season, may we know the mystery of the Incarnation in the beauty of Christmas trees, of candles that reveal the light of Christ overcomes all darkness, the meaning of gifts and presents, the joy of children, the joy of the parties and the family gatherings that are such a wonderful dimension of this festive season. May we listen to the sound of our children in a way that we hear the mystery of God’s love that is in them. When we are in touch with our spiritual center, Advent waiting is characterized by joy and not impatience and by hope rather than anxiety, for we know the One for whom we wait. Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception this. Mary said: “I am the servant of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your Word.”
The theme of today’s Gospel can be summed in two words: STAY AWAKE. In some ways, this Advent theme to stay awake is counterintuitive. It doesn’t mean “don’t get any sleep.” Stay awake is certainly not the advice parents give to children when it is time to go to bed. Staying awake doesn’t mean setting your alarm clock to anticipate this major religious event of the coming of the Day of the Lord. It can’t have this meaning as the Gospel tells us we do not know the day nor the hour.