The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, December 19, 2004
Fourth Sunday of Advent

O Come,
Flower of Jesse's stem,
sign of God's love for all his people:
save us without delay!

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 72:1,12-13,18-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-24

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The Covenant of Marriage is an Adventure in God

The Lord confirmed to St. Joseph that Mary is entrusted to him as his wife. St. Joseph is trustworthy before God because, as a man of prayer, he listens and obeys what God asks of him. The ear of his soul is pressed to the very heart of God; the actions of his life are his constant knowing, loving and serving of the Lord.

The message to his betrothed, Mary comes in a different time and way. The Lord is clearly heard and obeyed in humble, quiet, faithfulness with corresponding action by each. Each is belovedly espoused to God who espouses them to one another.

Each is confirmed trustworthy by God before the other as they recognize the other faithfully knows, loves and serves God. A trustworthy spouse remains faithful to God, listens prayerfully to God in all things, and acts on His Word. That Word most surely leads to extraordinary demands that require faith to trust that all is in and of God. Spouses are able to readily trust each other in God with all; the most difficult and seemingly untimely journey that precedes a birth in unseemly surrounds, visits from angels, shepherds and kings, a middle of the night flight to unknown lands for an indefinite time to remain for safety.... these are only the beginning of the ever-growing, grace-full faith in God with each other. The covenant of marriage is an advent-ure that begins in God.

- Mary Williams
(www.impactbydesign.biz)

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posted by joachim at 5:01 AM