Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24

The 4th Sunday of Advent is the last Sunday before the Birth of Christ.
Jesus will be born into the House of David, and so the first Reading tells a story of one of their members, Ahaz. The prophet Isaiah advised Ahaz.
When the House of David is threatened by its enemies, Ahaz doesn’t ask God for help and protection. Isaiah urges him to ask for a sign from God, but Ahaz refuses to do so. Ahaz seems to rely on his own abilities, but rather than admitting it, he uses the excuse that he didn’t want to put God to the test. God sends him a sign anyways. As much as prophets can’t escape God, God also provides signs without being asked for them.
The sign is crucial for the Christmas story: “the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”” What is Ahaz’ reaction? Does he understand the sign?
When Ahaz hears of a son, an heir, who is going to be born, a “Son of Man” who would be called “God is with us”, could he be afraid of this new ruler?

St Paul reiterates that Jesus was born into the House of David. This connection was very important for the early followers of Jesus who would have known the Scriptures and God’s choice of David as the true king of the Israelites. God had chosen David and he chose Jesus to be born into the Davidic line.
As an apostle, a person who is sent and chosen to preach the Good News, St Paul spreads this news. While Jesus’ genealogy is important for the Jewish audience, the most important message is about Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. The Resurrection is the message to the wider world – a message that will bring peace and grace.
The Gospel story according to Matthew refers to Isaiah’s prophecy which became true: Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be borne by Mary, a maiden, a virgin. Mary was engaged or betrothed to Joseph, which, at the time, was similar to being married without yet living together. When Joseph found out that Mary was with child, he knew that the child was not his, but as he was a righteous man, he didn’t want Mary to be shamed with a public accusation against her. Joseph decides to leave her quietly, but God interferes.
God has a plan for Joseph. He is important. It is through his genealogy that Jesus will be of the House of David, and, in the Gospel according to Matthew, it is Joseph who is told how to name Jesus. In this Gospel, we don’t hear about the annunciation to Mary, but rather learn about God communicating with Joseph, the male head of the family in a patriarchal society.
While Ahaz received messages through a prophet and Paul through Jesus’ Resurrection, Joseph receives his messages through a dream just like the young Joseph in the Old Testament. An angel, one of God’s messengers, informs Joseph in a dream, and Joseph, a righteous man, does what he is told. God’s angel refers to the prophecy of Isaiah to prove the fulfilment of this prophecy. Joseph believes and doesn’t leave Mary but rather takes her to his home.
Jesus will be born with a task: “he is the one who is to save his people from their sins”.
The Redeemer is conceived, born, lived and died without sin. Through his birth, Jesus becomes fully human, and through Joseph’s righteous action, Jesus is a legitimate son of the House of David. With Joseph taking Mary home, he agreed to look after the “maiden and her child”.
Joseph would have known that this task would not be easy, but he accepted it without hesitance. A righteous man, trusting in God who would never ask us of anything that we can’t handle – even if we have to ask God for support.

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