Archive for December 20, 2025

God Is with Us: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Posted: December 20, 2025 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Readings:
Isaiah 7:10–14
Psalm 24:1–6
Romans 1:1–7
Matthew 1:18–24

The mystery kept secret for long ages, promised through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, is today revealed (see Romans 16:25–26).

This is the “Gospel of God” that Paul celebrates in today’s Epistle—the good news that “God is with us” in Jesus Christ. The sign promised to the House of David in today’s First Reading is given in today’s Gospel. In the virgin found with child, God Himself has brought to Israel a savior from David’s royal line (see Acts 13:22–23).

Son of David according to the flesh, Jesus is the Son of God, born of the Spirit. He will be anointed with the Spirit (see Acts 10:38), and by the power of Spirit will be raised from the dead and established at God’s right hand in the heavens (see Acts 2:33–34; Ephesians 1:20–21).

He is the “King of Glory” we sing of in today’s Psalm. The earth in its fullness has been given to Him. And as God swore long ago to David, His Kingdom will have no end (see Psalm 89:4–5).

In Jesus Christ we have a new creation. Like the creation of the world, it is a work of the Spirit, a blessing from the Lord (see Genesis 1:2). In Him, we are saved from our sins, are called now “the beloved of God.”

All nations now are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to enter into the House of David and kingdom of God, the Church. Together, through the obedience of faith, we have been made a new race—a royal people that seeks for the face of the God of Jacob.

He has made our hearts clean; He has made us worthy to enter His holy place, to stand in His presence and serve Him.

In the Eucharist, the everlasting covenant is renewed, the Advent promise of virgin with child—God with us—continues until the end of the age (see Matthew 28:20; Ezekiel 37:24–28).

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: December 20, 2025 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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God with us, who can be against us? Today, we are reminded once again that our Lord Jesus is with us. Emanuel has come to dwell in our hearts and in our homes. Do we still refuse to believe?

Believe the prophets of old and the prophets of today whom the Lord still sends our way. As He speaks to our hearts this Advent, let us draw closer to Him. Let us be guided by our blessed mother, whose yes brought salvation into the world.

It is by her obedience and her attentiveness to the word and will of God, our heavenly Father, that we should inspire us to do likewise.

Dearest Mother, help us, intercede for us so that we may be pure like you are, holy as you are, and always seeking to draw everyone closer to your son, Jesus.

Pray for us, Holy Mother of God. Amen.


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First reading
Isaiah 7:10-14


The maiden is with child

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’
    Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David:
are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore,
will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son
whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’



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Gospel
Luke 1:26-38


‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.