FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 21, 2025 | MT 1:18-24 Receptive and trusting in God's plans

GOSPEL AND READINGS FOR THE EUCHARIST, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025, FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A. First Reading: From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 7:10-14 PSALM 23:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 R/. The Lord, the King of glory, is coming. SECOND READING: From the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 1:1-7 GOSPEL according to Saint Matthew 1:18-24 Subscribe to Virtual Channel 123 at this link:    / canalvirtual123   On the eve of Christmas, the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent recounts the birth of Jesus according to Saint Matthew, which begins with the expression "this is how the generation of Jesus was." This peculiar phrase attracted the attention of some Church Fathers, because with it Matthew implies that the story of Jesus's birth needs to be told: it was special and unique. “Like someone about to say something new,” said St. John Chrysostom, “(Matthew) promises to narrate how this generation came about; lest, upon hearing the words 'husband of Mary,' anyone should think that Christ was born according to the general law of nature.” Instead, the evangelist indicates with his account that Jesus's conception was without the intervention of a man, that it was therefore virginal and miraculous: through the action of the Holy Spirit. And in the events that followed, the Scriptures were also fulfilled, specifically the famous prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, which announced the birth of Emmanuel from a virgin. Matthew recounts that when Mary conceived the Lord in her womb, she and Joseph were already betrothed; That is, they had made the marriage betrothal called qiddûshîn, but they had not yet celebrated their wedding (nissûîn), in which the wife was received into the husband's home and they began living together. Nevertheless, the first ceremony already had all the legal effects of any marriage. It was precisely between these two events that the conception occurred "by the power of the Holy Spirit" (v. 20). According to the Law of Moses, Joseph was supposed to denounce Mary publicly so that she would be stoned for her alleged adultery (Deut 22:23-24). But when he realized what had happened, he decided to divorce Mary secretly. This likely meant signing and privately handing over a document that released Mary from the betrothal. In this way, he could present it when everyone knew she was pregnant with a child who was not Joseph's. Joseph's gesture demonstrates his exceptional character, because he intended to protect Mary and remove himself from the situation. That is why he deserves the praise of the evangelist, who calls him "righteous". Pope Francis once said: “We must meditate on these words to understand the trial Joseph faced in the days before Jesus’ birth. A trial similar to Abraham’s sacrifice, when God asked him for his son Isaac (cf. Gen 22): to renounce what was most precious, the person he loved most. But, as in Abraham’s case, the Lord intervened: he found the faith he was seeking and opened a different path, a path of love and happiness: ‘Joseph,’ he said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’ (Mt 1:20). This Gospel,” the Pope concluded, “shows us the full greatness of Saint Joseph’s soul. He was following a good life plan, but God had another design in store for him, a greater mission. Joseph was a man who always made room to listen to God’s voice, deeply sensitive to his secret will, a man attentive to the messages that came to him from the depths of his heart and from on high.” Having made his difficult decision, Joseph receives in a dream the angelic instruction to accept Mary and the child as his own son without fear, for he must name him according to the Law. By obeying the angel, Joseph recalls the patriarch of the same name, who understood God's will revealed in dreams (Gen 40:8ff.). The child's name, Jeshua or Yehoshua, means "God saves" and implies his mission, for, as the angel explains, "he will save his people from their sins" (v. 21). #GOSPELTODAYSUNDAY21DECEMBER2025 #ReadingsandGospelSunday21December2025 #WordoftheLordSunday21December2025 #FourthSundayofAdvent #ReceptiveandTrustinginGodsPlans #SaintJosephModelofFaithandObedience #InnerSilence #GodIsPresent #EternalLife #ChristLives #LiveTheGospelEveryDay #DedicateTimetoGod #BelieversinGod #Advent2026 #LetUsPrepareTheReadings #BibleAgenda2026 #ProphetIsaiah #WordoftheLord #WordofGod #Psalm23 #TheLordIsComingTheKingofGlory #JesusLives #Seminarians #PrepareYourHeart #RecognizeJesus #LiveGodsLove #BelieveInGod #KingdomOfGod #Lectionary #Education #LiturgyOfTheWord #LetterToTheRomans #HolyReadings #Catechists #TeachingsOfJesus #DailyReadingsAndGospel #MinistersAndLectors #Consecrated #Religious #EncounterWithTheWordOfGod #MusiciansOfGod #LetUsPrepareTheLiturgyOfTheWord #ReadingsForHolyMass2026 #BelieversInJesusChrist #WeBelieveInGod #SungAntiphon #HolyScriptures