The Fourth Sunday of Advent serves as the final, immediate preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth, focusing on the Incarnation and the Blessed Mother's role in salvation history.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent marks the culmination of the Advent season, intensely focusing on the imminent celebration of the Nativity of the Lord and the mystery of the Incarnation. In the church calendar, it acts as the final step in the liturgical preparation, shifting the primary focus from the themes of Christ's second coming and general repentance (prominent in earlier Advent weeks) to the profound reality of God becoming man through Mary. This Sunday illuminates salvation history by highlighting the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, emphasizing God's direct intervention in human affairs through the Virgin Mary, and inviting the faithful to prepare their hearts for the arrival of the Messiah who brings light and salvation to the world.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent, celebrated on December 21st in 2025, marks the culmination of the Advent season, serving as the immediate and most intense preparation for the Nativity of the Lord. It is a profound liturgical moment that shifts the faithful's focus from general anticipation of Christ's second coming and the call to repentance, to the imminent celebration of His first coming at Christmas. This final Sunday is characterized by a strong emphasis on the mystery of the Incarnation and, crucially, on the Blessed Virgin Mary's indispensable role in salvation history. The liturgical readings, particularly the Gospel, draw the congregation directly into the events leading up to Christ's birth, fostering a deep sense of closeness to the sacred moment when 'the Word became flesh.'
In the quiet, unassuming town of Nazareth, nestled among the hills of Galilee, lived a young woman named Mary. Her days were simple, filled with prayer and the humble duties of her home. She was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter, and her heart was pure, dedicated to God. One ordinary day, as the sun cast long shadows through her humble dwelling, an extraordinary light filled the room, and a presence unlike any she had ever known stood before her. It was the Archangel Gabriel, radiant and awe-inspiring.
Mary, startled and deeply troubled by his sudden appearance and his words, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you,' found herself grappling with an overwhelming sense of wonder and fear. What could such a greeting mean? Gabriel, sensing her trepidation, gently reassured her: 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.'
The words were astounding, impossible. Mary was a virgin. How could this be? Her question, 'How can this be, since I have no husband?' was not one of doubt, but of sincere inquiry, seeking understanding of God's mysterious plan. Gabriel explained the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Most High overshadowing her, and offered a sign: her elderly cousin Elizabeth, thought to be barren, was already six months pregnant.
In that profound moment, standing at the precipice of salvation history, Mary faced a choice. She could have recoiled from the incomprehensible, from the social implications, from the sheer weight of such a divine calling. But her faith, pure and unwavering, shone through. With a heart full of humility and absolute trust, she uttered the words that would change the course of eternity: 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.'
It was not merely acceptance; it was a profound 'fiat' – a 'yes' that embodied perfect obedience and surrender to the divine will. In that very instant, the Word became flesh within her, and the long-awaited Messiah began His earthly journey. Mary's unwavering faith, her humble 'yes,' is the very essence of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, reminding us that true preparation for Christ's coming lies in opening our hearts completely to God's will, just as she did.
December 23, 2018
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
This Fourth and last Sunday of Advent invites us to look at Mary. The Gospel presents us with the scene of the Annunciation (cf. Lk 1:26-38), a key moment in which God reveals His will to humanity and Mary, with her 'yes', is completely available to Him. The angel salutes her: 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!' (v. 28). We know that Mary is full of grace from the first moment of her conception, and so, immaculate, but the angel’s words reveal to us the deepest meaning of this grace: the grace of being united to God, of being a dwelling place for God, of allowing God to take flesh in her.
Mary is the one who 'found favour with God' (v. 30) because she 'listened' to Him, she was open to Him, she did not put obstacles in the way of the Lord’s will, and she became the mother of Jesus. This is the grace! And this also applies to us. We too are called to be 'full of grace', full of grace, by emptying ourselves of ourselves, of our ego, and by making space for God through obedience to the Gospel. The saints are those who have understood this well, and they have done this. They have emptied themselves to make space for God. And the 'full of grace' is Mary, who is the only one, and this is why she is unique.
The Annunciation takes place in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, from which, it was said, 'no prophet is to rise' (Jn 7:52). Yet it is precisely from there that God begins the new history of salvation. This confirms that God loves to work through smallness and humility. We too are called to be like Nazareth, to be ready to host the Lord who passes by. And this is a 'visit' that the Incarnation of the Word makes in our personal life, and also in the life of humanity. To be ready to host the Lord.
Mary is disturbed by the angel's greeting, but his words open her to a hope that goes beyond her every expectation. Indeed, the angel announces to her the birth of a Son, to whom she will give the name Jesus, and he adds that 'He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end' (vv. 32-33). It is a proclamation that fully reveals the Messiah's identity. The Child that Mary will conceive is the Son of God, and His kingdom will be without end. The angel also reassures her, saying, 'For with God nothing will be impossible' (v. 37).
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the liturgy invites us to look at Mary. She is the Mother who knew how to wait for God without ever losing patience, without ever giving in to discouragement, but rather, by humbly trusting in the Lord’s promises. This means that she is ready to welcome the Lord, to welcome the Lord. And for this, the Church calls her 'Seat of Wisdom', because she is the Mother who knew how to receive Jesus, Wisdom Incarnate. We learn from her to be evangelical communities that live the joy of the Gospel, that welcome Jesus who comes, who comes to bring us the light and joy of Christmas.
In these last days of Advent, let us fix our gaze on Mary, because it is impossible to celebrate Christmas without her. She is the one who prepares us to receive Jesus. Let us turn to her, saying: 'Mary, help us to prepare our hearts for Jesus, so that He may be born in us, in our families, in our cities. Help us to receive the Word, the Son, the Son of God.'
Lighting the fourth purple candle on the Advent wreath.
Each candle represents a successive stage of preparation for Christmas, with the fourth symbolizing the culmination of anticipation and often associated with love, peace, or the Blessed Virgin Mary's role as Christ's birth is imminent.
Liturgical readings and homilies strongly emphasize the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) and the Blessed Virgin Mary's humble acceptance ('fiat').
The Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent universally features this pivotal moment in salvation history, highlighting Mary's unique and essential role in the Incarnation and serving as an example of faithful surrender to God's will.
The singing or recitation of the 'O Antiphons' during Vespers (Evening Prayer) and as the Gospel acclamation before Mass.
These ancient prayers, recited from December 17th to 23rd (often encompassing the Fourth Sunday of Advent), directly invoke the coming Messiah under various biblical titles, intensifying the longing for His arrival in the final days before Christmas.
Adding the final ornaments to a Jesse Tree, particularly those representing Mary and Jesus.
The Jesse Tree visually traces the biblical genealogy of Jesus from Jesse, the father of King David, culminating in the figures that directly precede Christ's birth, making it particularly relevant as Christmas approaches.
The start of 'Las Posadas' (the inns), a novena of communal processions and prayer.
This tradition re-enacts Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem, emphasizing their journey and the anticipation of the Holy Family, which becomes very poignant in the days immediately preceding Christmas.