God Never Falls Short - Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
By Sr. Jackie Walsh, OSB
In previous week’s reflections, Sr. Sandra reminded us we need to be awake, stay alert! Sr. Rachel spoke of having a transformative change of heart, a metanoia. This past weekend, Sr. Marianne said we should be strong and not fear. Jesus told the disciples the blind will see, the lame walk, lepers will be cleansed.
Thinking about the prior three weeks and what they would require of and from each of us over the course of Advent, one might have a hint regarding the theme of our final Advent weekend readings . . . trust in God.
In the reading from Isaiah, the Lord speaks to Ahaz telling him to ask for a sign from God, but Ahaz refuses to trust, to ask, saying he will not tempt the Lord! Isaiah tells Ahaz the Lord himself will give a sign:
“the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name
him Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.”
Matthew’s Gospel tells us Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they had lived together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Mary’s pregnancy had consequences. It was a violation of the law and considered adultery. Joseph was honorable, a righteous man. He wanted to avoid public shame for Mary, so he was going to divorce her quietly.
Then an angel of the Lord communicates with Joseph in a dream, “do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Joseph wakes from his dream and takes Mary as his wife. All this takes place to fulfill what the Lord said through prophet Isaiah in the first reading: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”
What Joseph does takes an enormous amount of courage. But he trusts the Lord and takes a leap of faith, opening his heart for a new plan! He takes both Mary and Jesus into his home. He lets go of any preconceived notions he had going into the arrangement, accepts the unexpected conveyed in a dream, and cooperates. Joseph raises Jesus to be a good man, while at the same time God’s saving power is more fully at work in the world through Jesus’ ministry.
Trust in God is about vulnerability, making our hearts and lives open to whatever God has planned—even when it does not align with our personal choices, our preferences, or what we expect.
Thank God for Joseph staying and trusting in the Lord. Thank God for all the people in our lives and our world who are like Joseph—who stay and do not leave when life gets tough, or the unexpected happens. We are beginning the fourth and final week of Advent. God never falls short! Do you trust in God?