4th Sunday of Advent

by Dcn. Mark Lishko  |  12/21/2025  |  Gospel Reflections

Today’s Gospel is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy from the first reading.

Divorce in the Gospel does not have the same connotation as today. Joseph does not want to divorce Mary as we understand the word. The crux of the matter is quite the opposite; Joseph absolutely understands that Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit and does not regard himself worthy of being in the same household with her. In his humility, he wants to protect Mary and the unborn child.

God knows this and sends an angel to him in a dream: “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife in your home.” Joseph, being a righteous and holy man, would have known the scripture passage in Isaiah about the virgin conceiving and bearing a son. Thus, he cooperates with God’s plan.

What about you? Do you cooperate with God’s plan? An angel may not appear to you in a dream, but God makes His will known to each of us through various ways: Scripture, Adoration, prayers, others, and the Mass.

Are you listening? Responding? It is never too late to take out your earbuds. Make today, and the rest of your life matter.

Pray, ask God what His plan is for you. Listen like your eternal life depends on it…because it does. Every minute matters.

“May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thess 5:23)