004 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Readings

Cycle B 4th Sunday in Advent

Old Testament: 2nd Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14-16

Psalm: Psalm 89:2-5, 27-29

New Testament: Romans 16:25-27

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Homily Theme
Forever

Listen to the readings this Sunday and notice how many times the word forever is mentioned. Not only this Sunday is it mentioned, but every prayer the priest prays at every Mass ends with those same words. Do we take forever and ever for granted and gloss over its meaning for us? As a young teenager my mother once asked me when I was being particularly naughty, “Do you ever think of eternity son?” My glib answer was to tell her that I didn’t, since I didn’t have enough time. How true those words were and still are. Eternity is forever and ever, either in Heaven or in Hell

This Sunday, as we almost complete the Advent Season and approach Christmas, let us all contemplate the eternal God who existed from all eternity and entered into our time and space and was born in a small stable at Bethlehem. Whether we like it or not, we too are going to exist forever and ever, with Him or without Him. It is mind blowing to think about it: never ever, ever, ever an end, but forever.

The Christmas season is almost upon us and it is the one time when millions more than usual at least, think about the birth of Jesus. Why did He become one of us? What is the purpose of our lives? It is important to think about where we shall exist forever. How we shall exist forever depends on our answer now, while we can still choose. Through out the World, millions of extra people will attend Church Services during the Christmas Season. I would like to ask them the same question my mother asked me as a teen: Do you ever think about eternity and where you will spend it? Will they continue to worship God every Sunday after Christmas also? This is not a suggestion but a Command of God to keep His Day Holy.

In the Gospel today, Mary’s response is ‘yes’ to God’s plan. Because of her ‘yes’ we can also choose to become Sons and daughters of the God who chose to become one of us. Only those who decide to say ‘yes’ to Jesus will know the real meaning of Christmas, for millions of others it is just another occasion to party and feast. This Sunday really listen to the words forever and ever. You will never forget them now and each time you attend Mass it may remind you to change your final destiny. Forever and ever.