By Sr. Catherine Cleary, OSB

1st  Reading: Is 7:10-14 “The virgin shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel”; 2nd Reading: Rom 1:1-7 “Through him we belong to Jesus Christ, and are called to be holy” Gospel: Mt 1: 18-24 “And they shall call him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

Today is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. The readings sound (almost pound!) in our ears. They seem to say, “Don’t you get it, surely by now you understand.” This infant is GOD. Today’s first reading and the Gospel tell us his name is Emmanuel, meaning “I am with you always until the end of the age.”(MT 28:20). Continue Reading