Isaiah 7:10-14
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-24

Advent is a time of waiting and preparing once again for the birth of Jesus. The Advent readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent remind us that God is faithful to His promises. They help us focus on who Jesus is and why He came. The readings give us something to think about. Isaiah speaks of a sign, a child born to a virgin, and in the gospel, Joseph listens to God and chooses to stay with Mary although she is pregnant before they married.

These are not just stories from the past. They speak to us today. Like Joseph, we Christians are asked to trust and like the people in Isaiah’s time, we are told that God will not leave us alone.

It is difficult in our time in history for people to trust. The media is frequently providing false information. Leaders of countries blatantly lie to make themselves look good and excuse their negative actions. Families fall apart because of infidelity. Commercial enterprises raise costs to inflate their own greedy profit. Religious leaders lie, cover abuse and speak for power rather than truth. Obviously, these examples are not true of everyone, but in reality, they are present in our everyday lives.

Advent is a time to help us combat all this negativity because we Christian believe that Jesus is with us through every circumstance. We believe he became one with us in his humanity and understands the problems we face. The infant is named Emmanuel which means God is with us. In our preparation for Christmas, our prayers and reflection should help us believe God’s promise to be with us. It is a time for us to prepare for Jesus with faith and hope. We have to believe that God keeps His promises.

What actions can you take this Advent to be a positive influence in your everyday life?