Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings

“All This Took Place To Fulfill What The Lord Had Said Through The Prophet”

This is our last Sunday of Advent. As we get closer to Christmas and the coming of our Lord Jesus, we are reminded that these events were part of God's salvation plan from the beginning of time and foretold centuries before by the Prophet Isaiah and others. With great expectation and hope, the people of Judah awaited their savior. Now, in just a few short days, we will remember that the prophesies of long ago were fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah, on that Christmas night.

Our first reading (Isaiah 7:10-14) is a scene from the story of Ahaz, the King of Judah, who trusted more in the power of other nations to protect him than in the Lord. And so, the Lord God sought to give Ahaz a sign to reassure him. The sign was none other than the virgin birth of our Savior, Emmanuel (God is with us).

In our Epistle reading from the opening introduction of St. Paul's letter to the Romans (Romans 1:1-7), St. Paul explains the full impact of what this fulfillment means to us and to all of humanity. Paul reminds us that we are called to an “obedience of faith”, an undivided allegiance to the Lord of our faith.

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 1:18-24), we hear the account of the Angel's visit to Joseph after he learned that his betrothed Mary was with child. In this we hear the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy of the virgin birth.

We look forward to the events of Christmas Day with joy and childlike anticipation; knowing that God “so loved the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). In these events of Christmas, we are reminded that God's saving gift unfolds anew each day in our lives and in our hearts. This is the lasting impact of Christmas.

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