4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT : WE LIGHT THE ANGELS' CANDLE AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES..........

Our Advent Season of watching and waiting for the Messiah's Coming is in its final days on this Fourth Sunday of Advent.  As God's People we are preparing to celebrate with Catholic-Christians throughout the World, the first Coming in history some thousand years ago, the Holy Birth of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ - Who is the Savior of Humankind.  We focus our Scriptural energies today and in the five days of Advent remaining, on The Incarnation, the Word of God taking on Human flesh, becoming Emmanuel, God With Us.  The Prophet Isaiah shares with us the story of King Ahaz, who is fearful in the face of war, and to whom God sends the sign of the birth of a child, as a sign of Hope.  As Advent People we believe that in time God sent a baby, to be the Christ Child, born to reddem God's People.  St. Paul's Letter to rthe Romans tells us of how Jesus descended from the lineage of David, through St. Joseph.  Matthew's Gospel also speaks of the role of Joseph, the just man, full of righteousness, and the obedience of faith, who silently and compassionately follows the words of the angel and takes his bethroted Mary into his house as his wife, becoming foster father of her child conceived by God's Spirit.  All of us who are Believers in the Son of God made Man, can learn from the good and holy example of St. Joseph, who despite uncertainty as to the meaning of his experience, accepted the responsibility he was given and embraced it.  As we embrace the fullness of the Light and Hope of Advent and ready to Welcome the Christ Child into our hearts, homes, and churches, this Christmas, may Peace, Justice, Righteousness, and Living Faith, flow in, and through us, vanquishing the darkness..........Come Lord Jesus, Come - As We Light The Angels Candle Around Our Advent Wreath Today,   Fr.  Troy