II Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Psalm 89
Romans 16: 25-27
Luke 1: 26-38
The Fourth Sunday of Advent, in all three cycles, is devoted to the immediate coming of the feast of Christmas. The readings are directly connected to the incarnation of the Son of God. The Introit (Entrance Antiphon) of this Sunday is from Isaiah 63:
"Drop down dew, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let hte earth be opened and bud forth a Savior."
Accordingly, the first reading on this Sunday tells of the ancestor of Jesus, King David, deciding to build "a house for the Lord." God tells David not to worry---instead, God is going to build David a house, and assures him that "your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before Me; your throne shall stand firm forever." The psalm echoes this promise, with God announcing "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant----establish your throne for all generations!" St. Paul, in the letter to the Romans, ties all of this together by saying, "According to the revelation of the mystery kept secred for long ages, but now made known to all the nations," reminding us that all of this has its climax in the coming of Jesus, the Son of God.
Today's Gospel is the story of the Annunciation--the archangel Gabriel coming to Mary to tell her that the Messiah, the Son of God, would be born of her womb. Mary's YES thus begins the reversal of all the times humanity has said NO to God, and Mary's consent brings Jesus into the world. The angel tells her that "he will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High--and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the hosue of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." The prophecies of the First Reading and the Responsorial Psalm come to their fulfillment in the words of today's Gospel.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux speaks these words to Mary, as she decides how to answer the angel Gabriel:
"You have heard, O Viring, that you will conceive and bear a Son...the angel awaits an answer...we too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion...Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin...that is what the whole world waits for...for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned...Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the Divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the Eternal Word."
(Homilia 4)
The propers and readings have inspired so much music:
"Rorate coeli desuper," William Byrd. "Music for Advent," www.litpress.org
"Nova, nova!" medieval carol, "Music for Advent," www.litpress.org
"To a Maid Engaged to Joseph," hymn, "Music for Advent II," www. litpress.org
"The Annunciation Gospel," "Redeemer of the Nations, Come," www.jspaluch.com/wlp
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