The Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love Draws Near
As we enter the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the nearness of Christ’s birth comes sharply into focus. The candles on the wreath are all lit; the longings of the prophets, the patient waiting of Israel, and our own desires for the Savior converge in these final days before Christmas. Advent is a season of expectation, but this last week invites something more—preparation of the heart.
This Sunday’s Gospel turns our attention to St. Joseph, the quiet guardian of the Holy Family. In Matthew’s account, Joseph wrestles with the news of Mary’s unexpected pregnancy. Rather than choosing a path of anger or self-protection, he opens his heart to God’s surprising plan. Through the message of the angel, he learns that the Child conceived in Mary is Emmanuel—God with us. Joseph responds not with hesitation but with trust. He takes Mary into his home and embraces the vocation God sets before him.
In these final days before Christmas, Joseph becomes our model. Advent is not simply about counting down to a holiday; it is about making room for Christ where we had not expected Him. Often, God’s plans are revealed in ways we do not anticipate—through interruptions, changes, or challenges. Like Joseph, we are invited to listen, to trust, and to act with love.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent is also a reminder that God draws near not in distant majesty but in humility. The eternal Son of God chooses to enter the world as an infant, dependent on the care of Mary and Joseph. He comes into the ordinary rhythms of human life so that no place in our lives is too small or too simple for His grace.
As we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, let us ask for Joseph’s courage and Mary’s openness. May our hearts become a stable ready to receive Christ—poor, simple, but willing. And may these last days of Advent help us to welcome the Savior with renewed faith and love.
“O Wisdom of our God Most High, teaching us to walk in the path of knowledge—come!”
In Christ,
Fr. Joe Connelly