Fourth Sunday of Advent Reflection

December 22, 2024

Micah 1–4a

Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19

Hebrews 10: 5–10

Luke 1: 39-45

Some think that the readings from liturgical year C look more to the future than the readings of years A and B. This is evident here. Micah says the ultimate ruler of Israel will be born of a woman from Bethlehem (Mary). We see the prediction in the Old Testament of the Messiah (Jesus) who will be born and shepherd the flock. His greatness will reach the ends of the earth, and he will bring peace and protect his people.

In Psalm 80, we see Jesus as the shepherd of Israel where he is in heaven with the angels. His faithful people pray for God’s salvation, that God will restore and protect them. They pray for mercy and intervention. “Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.” The people truly desire God to refocus them so that they may be strengthened.

In the letter to the Hebrews, we learn that God did not desire the sacrifices that are common in the Old Testament. “God desires obedience and a right heart and not empty compliance to the sacrificial system.” In the end the prophecy would be fulfilled in the physical body of Jesus. Jesus would carry out God’s will. Christ offers his body on the cross as a sacrifice.

All these readings made sense once we got to the Gospel of Luke when Mary learns that her cousin Elizabeth is expecting a baby and she makes a visit to her. When Mary arrives, Elizabeth’s baby leaps in her womb and she is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth praised Mary for her belief that the Lord would be born of her. Can you imagine the great faith this takes for this young girl? Elizabeth describes Mary as the first disciple, as the one who believed that God’s word to her would be fulfilled.

May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God’s plan for salvation. And, while she is going through this, Mary drops everything to go be of assistance to Elizabeth in her time of need! Mary does exactly what Jesus calls us to do. She shares the message by being of assistance to others. Mary is who we use as an example in our lives. She gives everything to God and trusts in him completely even when her son dies on the cross. She devotes her life to God and her son Jesus. Yet she still helps other people who need her help. We need to try to be like her.

Written by Nancy Russell, ASLW