GOD-WITH-US: THE MYSTERY AT THE HEART OF ADVENT

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, Isch

Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Romans 1:1-7; Isaiah 7:10-14

As we approach the final days of Advent, the liturgy draws our attention to a profound truth at the heart of Christian faith: God chooses to be with us. The readings of this Fourth Sunday of Advent converge around this mystery of Emmanuel, “God-with-us,” and they show us that God’s saving presence becomes visible in history through human faith and obedience.

The First Reading (Isaiah 7:10-14) is set in a moment of political and spiritual crisis. King Ahaz of Judah is threatened by enemy forces and filled with fear. Through the prophet Isaiah, God invites him to ask for a sign - a gesture meant to strengthen his faith. Yet Ahaz refuses, not out of humility but out of distrust. Despite his lack of faith, God remains faithful. He gives a sign anyway: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” This is already an important Advent lesson. God’s saving plan does not depend on perfect human response. Even when human faith falters, God continues to draw near. Hope is born not from human strength but from divine fidelity.

This promise of Emmanuel finds its fulfillment in the Gospel (Matthew 1:18-24). Here, we encounter another man facing fear and uncertainty - not a king on a throne, but Joseph, a just and ordinary man. Unlike Ahaz, Joseph does not speak much; he listens. Faced with Mary’s mysterious pregnancy, he chooses mercy over judgment. When God speaks to him in a dream, Joseph responds with prompt obedience. He takes Mary into his home and names the child Jesus. In doing so, Joseph becomes a key collaborator in God’s plan. Emmanuel does not arrive through power or spectacle, but through the quiet obedience of a faithful heart.

The Second Reading (Romans 1:1-7) helps us interpret these events theologically. St. Paul speaks of the Gospel as God’s promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ, “descended from David according to the flesh” yet established as Son of God in power. Paul describes the Christian response as the “obedience of faith.” This phrase beautifully unites belief and action. Faith is not merely intellectual assent; it is trust expressed in concrete choices. Joseph embodies this obedience of faith. By trusting God’s word, he allows Emmanuel to enter fully into human history.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 24) ties these readings together by asking: “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?” The answer is clear: one with clean hands and a pure heart. Advent prepares us to welcome Emmanuel, but not passively. God desires hearts ready to receive Him. Just as Joseph made room for Mary and Jesus in his home, we are invited to make room for God in our lives - through purity of intention, openness to God’s will, and courageous trust.

As Advent draws to a close, the message is simple yet demanding: God is with us, but He asks for our cooperation. Emmanuel comes into a world marked by fear, confusion, and uncertainty - much like our own. He still chooses to enter through human faith. Like Joseph, we may not understand everything God is doing, but we are called to trust and obey. In doing so, we become living signs that Emmanuel is still at work among us today.