Scripture Reflections for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Year B, Lectionary 11


God speaks, provides and leads us in life but we must continually be attentive to God's Word. King David was 'settled', 'given rest' and began to listen to his will over God's, thinking he was doing good. In the annunciation Mary listened to the angel Gabriel and received God's message, grace and Son. We can also be attentive to God to realize how favored we are by God and let Jesus live in us.

Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: AdamAngelAnunciationCareCovenantDanielDavidDoubtEucharistGabrielGraceHopeHouseKingdomMaryMessageMysteryPrayerQuestionReceiveRespondSightSilenceStrengthSurrenderTempleTentWaitWelcomeWorks

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Romans 16:25-27
Catholic Productions

“So what's Paul referring to here when he talks about the 'revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages'...the mystery is the identity and the mission of the Messiah”


Brant Pitre in "Breaking the Sound of Silence" (December 16, 2020)
Luke 1:26-38

“Do not wait until all the conditions are perfect, do not allow what you cannot do to get in the way of what you can do. Begin with what you can do now, come as you are and let God take care of the rest.”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (December 18, 2023)
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“Gabriel is roaming the world searching for another Mary, another person who is willing to say 'take this, this is my body'”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ (December 20, 2020)

“The key to our succeeding in all that we do...is the presence of the Lord with us. When the Lord is with us then we can overcome every obstacle and that is what we celebrate as Christmas.”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (December 18, 2020)
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA

“we forget that Gabriel is standing by our side and we allow the fragility of our lives to say 'well, I don't know, Lord, let me get back to you'”


Fr. Oscar Pratt (December 20, 2020)
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“God comes to you and me as well, and not quite the same as Mary but, nonetheless, true that God invites you and me to bring Jesus to the world. And asks us 'would we do this, would we say yes?’ And waits for our fiat. Waits for our ‘let it be done.’”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ (December 08, 2022)
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“What if God is waiting for you to say 'yes, I will bear Christ to the world'?”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ (December 07, 2023)
Overall Readings
Catholic Productions

“whereas the Davidic kings were called the 'son of God' in a metaphorical sense or like a covenantal sense...Mary's child is going to be the actual Son of God, he's going to be the eternal Son of God”


Brant Pitre in "The Annunciation and the Kingdom of David" (December 14, 2020)

“God by-passes important people and places. So often his favour rests on simple unlettered folk, all of them without influence, power or prestige.”


Fr. Geoffrey Plant in "According to your word" (December 17, 2023)
U.S. Catholic magazine

“Once we learn how to welcome Jesus who else do we welcome inside?”


Rose Hesselbrock (December 15, 2023)
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Philadelphia

“God does not abandon you, Church, that's the good news you want to hear this morning in the midst of the ratchetness of this world, the meanness of this world, God is with you”


Fr. Stephen Thorne in "My God Is Not Virtual" (December 20, 2020)
Catholic Women Preach

“Like Mary we are called to be God-bearers, to make God’s compassion and justice real and present in our world. How? Answering that question requires discernment as we discover what gifts God has given us and how best to use them.”


Karen Sue Smith (December 24, 2023)
Catholic Women Preach

“God sees us very differently than we see ourselves. Our sight is limited usually by age and circumstance but God's sight is infinite and it includes possibilities that don't always occur to us or we can't imagine.”


Mary Katharine Deeley (December 20, 2020)
St. Teresa of Avila - DC

“don't you know you can't run from God, you can't hide from God. God is following you, God's goodness is running after you.”


Monsignor Raymond East (December 24, 2023)
Catholic Women Preach

“no matter how dark it is may we know that God provides for us, walks with us, wanders with us, and waits to fill us with new hope and possibilities”


Edwina Gateley (December 24, 2017)