On the Fourth Sunday of Advent
By Mike Lambrecht
Today we enter into the fourth Sunday of Advent. Our waiting is almost over. In just a few short days we are set to celebrate one of the holiest days of the year. We will celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord – the coming of God in the flesh.
It is hard to imagine such an event taking place in our history--The omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God of the universe choosing to become a limited, finite creature. And yet it happened. Nearly 2000 years ago, God became man. He became totally dependant on Mary and Joseph to provide for his care. He needed to be changed just like any other child. He needed to be fed. He needed to be kept clothed and kept warm. He needed love.
The Gospel of Luke tells us, “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”1 In other words, Jesus had to learn in his human intellect. Again in the book of Hebrews we hear, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.”2 Therefore, scripture tells us that Jesus knew the same trials and temptations that we face in our lives today.
The catechism puts it another way, “The unique and altogether singular event of the Incarnation of the Son of God does not mean that Jesus Christ is part God and part man, nor does it imply that he is the result of a confused mixture of the divine and the human. He became truly man while remaining truly God.”3 What must it have been like for the one who created everything in the universe to himself become a creature?
This wonderful event in history shows us the extent of the true love that God has for us. He became like us to teach us about him; To teach us how to live; To teach us how to love; to teach us how to submit to God’s will, even to the point of death.
In these final days of preparation to celebrate the coming of Christ on earth, and as we await the second coming of Christ, I would urge you to spend at least a few minutes meditating on all of these things. Take some time to ponder just what all of this means. Take some time to thank Him for all that he has done for us.
1 Luke 2:52
2 Hebrews 4:15
3 CCC 464