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John the Evangelist begins his Gospel account with a description of the Word of God and the creation of the universe and humankind. This Gospel is linked with the beginning of the first book of Genesis. The "Word of God" was a common expression among the Jews. God's Word in the Hebrew Scriptures is an active, creative, and dynamic word. "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made". "He sends forth his commands to the earth; and swiftly runs his command”.

The two stories proclaimed in today’s Gospel (Mt 2:13-15, 19-23) are part of Matthew’s introduction to who Jesus is, telegraphed into two chapters that include a genealogy and several stories surrounding his birth and the Holy Family’s experience of exile due to Herod’s murderous intentions toward their newborn child. Matthew’s intention is to parallel the story of Jesus with the story of Moses, God’s instrument of salvation for Israel, whom Moses leads from slavery to freedom and the Promised Land. This time, as the visit of the Magi attests, God’s Chosen are all people. Furthermore, God does not act through another, for in Jesus (“God saves”) is found Emmanuel (“God-with-us”).

Christmas time brings family members together from all walks of life. Not all family members necessarily get along. One of the issues I encounter in ministry are faithful Christians distressed over family members who have abandoned the faith. In many instances, I counsel people who experience a sense of personal failure because they are not successful in convincing their wayward family members to return to the Church. This is especially true with parents who have adult children no longer practicing their faith.

If Rachel lived in our generation, she may not be crying for her children. The reason for her lack of tears would not, for the most part, be insensitivity. Rather Rachel would not be weeping because it is quite possible that she, like many women today, would not have any children. The birthrate throughout most of the world has steadily declined over the last generation, much below what is required for replacement. African and some Muslim countries are generally exceptions to this rule.

We have merely begun celebrating one of the happiest events in our Christian tradition, the Birth of Jesus, when the Gospel of John reading for the day abruptly throws us into the middle of a crime scene involving a death and a robbery. Mary Magdalene has frantically reported to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved that Jesus’ body is missing: the tomb is empty, and “they” have taken it away. A shockingly bizarre contrast just three days into the Octave of Christmas!

It was the day after Christmas and all through the house there was not a present unopened, our hospitality worn out. The cards were half-read with the money half-spent the kids were still screaming and the parents needed to vent.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins,” Matthew 1:20-21.

Though the readings of this final day of Advent are often overshadowed by the Christmas Vigil Mass that occurs later this evening, we should allow ourselves to rest in these final quiet moments of the darkness of Advent before the festivities begin. The readings and antiphons today evoke a strong image of light set to pierce the long darkness: for David, it is the darkness of war and uncertainty about his lineage continuing; for Zechariah, it is the darkness of Israel’s longing for a Messiah, trusting but not yet seeing what God has in store; and for us, it is the deep darkness of winter setting in, marked by the turmoil and anxiety in the world and in our daily lives.

Earlier in the Advent season, we heard of 2 Annunciations, one to Zechariah and one to Our Lady. Both Annunciations were delivering miraculous news, however, they were met with very different responses.

Mary says: “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,” or in other versions we hear: “my soul magnifies the Lord.” Proclaiming God’s greatness or magnifying His name is why this beautiful canticle is called the Magnificat. Mary’s own soul reveals God’s greatness.

For the most part, Christmas is a time when family members get together. They visit one another. They share with one another their journey of life and their memories. During the visit they hear one another’s stories, they encounter one another. It is a time to see where they are coming from and where they are right now. They also talk about their dreams for their future. Being together brings a sense of joy.

Today’s gospel, with its account of Gabriel’s visit to Mary, places her squarely in the line of patriarchs and prophets who have been asked by God to do daunting things. Knowing that she, like them, is “greatly troubled” by what God is asking of her, Gabriel tells her, “Do not be afraid,” and explains how God will make it come to pass.

While we might be used to Advent-Christmas stories being about important biblical women, today, in this last week of the Advent season, we can juxtapose stories about two men from the gospels. We first read about Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, who has an encounter with a messenger of God, while serving at the incense altar in the Temple. The angel gives him a heavenly message that he and his elderly barren wife, Elizabeth, will soon have a male son who would be both a joy to them and a prophet. Zachariah finds this hard to believe and questions the angel. In other words, he asks for a sign, a definite assurance that this really is from God. Zachariah’s punishment for his lack of faith merited him being struck mute.

GOD is always with us, but HE waits for us to turn to HIM.  In our first reading Ahaz and his army were losing their fight against the Assyrians because they chose to rely on their own strength rather than relying on GOD.  GOD speaks to Isaiah and instructs him to encourage the king to seek a miracle – GOD has a plan to save HIS people, but the Israelites refuse and fall to the Assyrians.  GOD still has a plan and is still with us.

As we end this third week of Advent, “the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham”, is a reminder that Jesus was fully human, while fully divine. Advent, one of my favorite seasons since I was a child growing up in Haiti, brings back memories of joyful expectations. My late parents – may they rest in peace – and my surviving siblings remain part of unforgettable images from the past. More recently, these memories were enriched with words of wisdom from my Dominican family. Meister Eckhart, a medieval German Dominican mystic, once asked: “What good is it to me if Mary gave birth to the Son of God [centuries] ago, if I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and culture?”

From Denise Levertov, a late Jewish convert to Catholicism, a poem, On the Mystery of the Incarnation:

“. . . no one is greater than John; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28)

I am someone who loves reviews! It doesn’t matter if I am buying a new lightbulb or going out for a nice dinner, I am sure to check reviews on various websites and apps to make sure it will be a positive experience. I also love writing reviews – giving the details on the functions of the latest gadget that I am trying out, or posting a picture about the great hamburger I tried across town.

Who has not experienced something like the father with the two sons in today’s Gospel parable either in community or when supervising a project? There are those who when asked to do something moan and groan, say they cannot, that they are too busy, that they do not want to, that they will think about it, but then eventually do what they were asked. And then there are those who say they will, eagerly volunteer, and then never follow through. You must fall back on the moaners and the groaners to get the job done.