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Fourth Sunday of Advent (C)

December 22, 2024

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S

Introit

Collect

Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading

The Lord says to his people: 2 “You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judea, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; 5 and he shall be the one of peace.

Responsorial Psalm

Second Reading

When Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God.’” 8 When Christ said, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “See, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel

Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Catena Nova

We must look forward to the day, so soon to come, on which we celebrate the anniversary of Christ’s birth. Scripture itself insists on the joy which must fill us—a joy which will lift our spirit out of itself in longing for his coming, impatient of delay as it strains forward to see even now what the future holds in store....Grace accompanied his first coming, glory will surround his last; [his] intermediate coming is a combination of both, enabling us to experience in the consolations of his grace a sort of foretaste of his glory. Blessed are those whose burning love has gained for them such a privilege! (Guerric of Igny)

We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly, but does not take place within myself? And, what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to his Son if I do not also give birth to him in my time and my culture? This, then, is the fullness of time: When the Son of Man is begotten in us (Meister Eckhart).

It is no use saying that we are born two thousand years too late to give room to Christ. Nor will those who live at the end of the world have been born too late. Christ is always with us, always asking for room in our hearts. But now it is with the voice of our contemporaries that he speaks, with the eyes of store clerks, factory workers, and children that he gazes; with the hands of office workers, slum dwellers, and suburban housewives that he gives. It is with the feet of soldiers and tramps that he walks, and with the heart of anyone in need that he longs for shelter. And giving shelter for food to anyone who asks for it, or needs it, is giving it to Christ.…If Mary had appeared in Bethlehem clothed, as St. John says, with the sun, a crown of twelve stars on her head, and the moon under her feet, then people would have fought to make room for her. But that was not God’s way for her, nor is it Christ’s way for himself, now when he is disguised under every type of humanity that treads the earth (Dorothy Day).

Her salutation
Sings in the stone valley like a Charterhouse bell:
And the unborn saint John
Wakes in his mother's body,
Bounds with the echoes of discovery.

Sing in your cell, small anchorite!
How did you see her in the eyeless dark?
What secret syllable
Woke your young faith to the mad truth
That an unborn baby could be washed in the Spirit of God?
Oh burning joy!

What seas of life were planted by that voice!
With what new sense
Did your wise heart receive her Sacrament,
And know her cloistered Christ? (Thomas Merton)

How did Elizabeth herself know what had happened to Our Lady? What made her realize that this little cousin who was so familiar to her was the mother of her God? She knew it by the child within herself, by the quickening into life which was a leap of joy. If we practice this contemplation taught and shown to us by Our Lady, we will find that our experience is like hers. If Christ is growing in us, if we are at peace, recollected, because we know that however insignificant our life seems to be, from it He is forming Himself; if we go with eager wills, “in haste,” to wherever our circumstances compel us because we believe that He desires to be in that place, we shall find that we are driven more and more to act on the impulse of His love. And the answer we shall get from others to those impulses will be an awakening into life or the leap into joy of the already wakened life within them (Caryll Houselander).

We find reflected in Mary’s visitation the hopes and expectations of the humble, God-fearing people who were awaiting the fulfilment of the prophetic promises… By accepting the divine will, Mary offered her active co-operation so that God could become man in her maternal womb. She bore the divine Word within her as she went to visit her elderly cousin who, in turn, was awaiting the Baptist’s birth. In this act of human solidarity, Mary demonstrated that authentic charity which grows within us when Christ is present. (Pope St. John Paul II)

Serving others and being full of joy, is the attitude that I would like to underline today. Mary was able to serve Elizabeth, because she reached out to her. Reaching out to others is another Christian sign. Persons who describe themselves as Christian and who are unable to reach out to others, to go and meet them, are not totally Christian. Being of service and reach out to others, both require going out from themselves – going out to serve and meet others, to embrace another person. Through Mary’s service towards others, through that encounter, our Lord’s promise is renewed and makes it happen now, just as it did then (Pope Francis).

Homily

Call me the Grinch, if you will, but years ago I announced I was done with it -- Christmas shopping that is. Some were surprised since I used to go all out. But one person said, "Thank God." So I no longer enter the Temple of Mammon — otherwise known as "the Mall" — on its greater feast day -- otherwise known as Black Friday to buy gifts. I no longer pass its host of chapels, enticing me to offer tribute to various gods. I do yield, though, to one temptation — at a shrine that sells poinsettias and wreaths: St. Costco's. And after the "holy days" (yes, you heard me) I visit a minor basilica to buy Christmas cards for next year at half price. Where I often spend a half hour searching for ones with a religious theme -- a greeting with more than holly, a snowman, or jingle bells. Some sensitive soul at St. Barnes and Noble must feel all that religious stuff would surely offend someone. I was glad though to wish the person at the Post Office who sold me "forever" stamps with the Madonna and Child on them a "Merry Christmas." Her face lit up. Subversive stuff, I know.

Which is why I feel we should give December 25^thback to its original owner. For Christians, some say, stole the feast from the god Saturn way back in the Fourth Century. And surely Saturn deserves more than just a day of the week named for him. His devotees have done such a good job trying to get Christmas back, the church should admit defeat, and turn it focus elsewhere. -- like Epiphany. Besides, if we switched to January 6th, we could take advantage of all those “after Christmas sales”! I know, I know — I’m beginning to sound like Scrooge.

And my better self knows that beneath the consumer frenzy, some glimmer of faith survives, inspiring someone, somewhere to give -- not because they have to — but in response to God’s who gave his very best — not on a Hallmark card. — but the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (II). Still, there’s one thing I can’t buy about Christmas, American-style. It’s this idea something wonderful -- even as wonderful as Christmas – has to come wrapped in tinsel or ribbon.

The prophet Micah knew better than that. He tells us God doesn’t much care for human displays. After all, Micah foretold the Messiah -- of all people — would be born in a little, out of the way place, no one would ever expect. Saying instead, You, Bethlehem . . . too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient times (I).

Of course, Micah knew nothing of a cold winter’s night, of no room at the inn, of a manger where animals feed; of uncouth shepherds or parents from a place the Bible never mentions -- not Whoville but Nazareth — from which someone thought nothing good could come. So no wonder “Nativity scenes” are never found in the Temple of Mammon where I once shopped for that would surely distract from dazzling displays where other gods live -- but not this God.

Who lay hidden for nine months in a womb — and three days in a tomb. Whose Mother carried the Child whose greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth (I): Who visited another obscure woman living in the hill country …(in) a town of Judah, miles from the gold and the glitter of Jerusalem. Two women living under clouds -- the first, a cloud of suspicion, for her Child was conceived before she lived with her husband, -- and the other a cloud of disgrace, for she was barren.

No wonder one set out and traveled…in haste to meet the other (G). Yet to such women, in such a place, God came, making Elizabeth ask, How does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? : Yes, other gods might come on a sleigh -- but not this God.

For Jesus Christ came into the world, [saying], ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me’ (cf. II). Making do with flesh like ours, with the pain and the gore of human birth, wrapped not in paper and bows but in swaddling clothes, that needed a change like all baby’s do. Other gods might come in a nursery and crib, -- but not this God.

And all for the purpose of giving himself up -- his body for us — not as temple priests do with their impressive rites, but in the shame of the cross, where all could see how this God saves: In the very same body he now gives in the Eucharist, where Christ’s poverty and weakness -- his commonplace form — can still be seen, broken and shared, for the life of the world: In a sign that contradicts every other sign of power, wealth, and excess, such as we see in the temples we sometimes visit instead. Where we find other gods whose Christmas “comes in a store” -- but not this God’s. Who lives and reigns, forever and forever more. Amen.

Prayers of the Faithful (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that our hearts may leap for joy as we recognize God-with-us in the people and events of our lives.

For a spirit of joy: that we may be grateful for all the gifts and opportunities that God offers us and rejoice in the blessings which come to us each day.

For all children who are at risk, who have run away, who are in institutional settings, or who have been trafficked: that God will guide them to someone whom they can trust and bring them to safety.

For all who live in Bethlehem and the hill country of Judah; for Christians, Jews, and Muslims: that God’s Spirit will open new pathways of peace and bring forth new hope for all who live in fear.

For refugees who have fled violence or oppression: that God will protect them from harm, give them strength to face their challenges, and guide them to places of safety.

For anyone experiencing fear, anxiety, or depression: that the birth of Christ may bring light into their lives and freedom to their hearts.

For all who are traveling during this season: that they may arrive safely and have renewing visits with family and friends

For all who are away from home during the Christmas season, particularly missionaries, aid workers, and members of the military: that God will fill their hearts with peace and reunite them with loved ones in the New Year.

For all who were injured or lost homes or businesses in the recent hurricanes: that God will heal their wounds, keep them safe from further harm, and help them access the resources that they need.

For the sick: that God will heal all who are suffering, give them hope, and renew the strength of all who are caring for them.

Who are we, Lord God, that you should come to us? Yet you have visited your people and redeemed us in your Son. As we prepare to celebrate his birth, make our hearts leap for joy at the sound of your Word, and move us by your Spirit to bless your wonderful works. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Chant

Offertory Hymn. (William Byrd)

An earthly tree a heavenly fruit it bear,
A case of clay contained a crown immortal
A crown of crowns, a King whose cost and care
Redeemed poor man, whose race before was thrall
To death, to doom, to pains of everlasting,
By His sweet death, scorns, stripes, and often fasting.

A star above the stars, a sun of light,
Whose blessed beams this wretched earth bespread
With hope of heaven and of God's Son the sight,
Which in our flesh and sinful soul lay dead.
O faith, O hope, O joys renowned for ever,
O lively life that deathless shall persever.

Then let us sing the lullabys of sleep
To this sweet babe, born to awake us all
From drowsy sin that made old Adam weep,
And by his fault gave to mankind the fall.
For lo! this day, the birth day, day of days,
Summons our songs to give Him laud and praise.

Communion Antiphon

Closing Hymn

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him,
still The dear Christ enters in.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

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