4th Sunday of Advent Year A 2025

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel. (Mt 1, 23 )

Today’s O antiphon proclaims “O Rising Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice: come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”

In praying this antiphon together, we can imagine the world holding its breath. Light is promised to those in the shadows, hope to those who feel lost. And right at the heart of this promise stands Joseph — quiet, strong, and utterly faithful.

Isaiah speaks of a sign from God: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” It is a prophecy full of mystery and hope. Matthew shows us how this promise lands not in a palace, but in the life of an ordinary working man. Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant, turning his world upside down. He faces confusion, heartbreak, as well as real social danger. Yet Matthew tells us he is a “righteous man”. His righteousness is not rigid or cruel; it is compassionate, thoughtful, and above all open to God.

Then, something extraordinary happens. God speaks to Joseph in a dream, and Joseph believes. He trusts the word given to him, even when it makes little sense by human standards. As St Augustine writes, “Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love, and the future to God’s providence” (Sermon 80, 8). Joseph lives this trust fully. He takes Mary as his wife. He names the child Jesus and steps into a role he never expected.

Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine — descended from David, yet Son of God in power. Joseph stands right at this meeting point. Though not Jesus’ biological father, he is chosen to be his earthly father. Augustine reflects on this mystery with awe: “He who was the Son of God became the Son of man, that the sons of men might become sons of God” (Sermon 121, 5). Joseph is entrusted with protecting and nurturing this miracle of God-made-flesh.

Don’t let’s rush this. Joseph looks after Jesus, teaches Him, works beside Him. The hands that shaped wood also held the One through whom all things were made. Augustine marvels at this reversal: “He was carried in the womb by a woman whom He Himself created” (Sermon 69, 3). And Joseph is there, guarding that wonder with steady love.

Joseph shows us that courage is not loud. It is faithful presence. It is choosing obedience day after day. Through his yes, the Rising Sun shines out in the darkness, not only of the world, but of our own fears and uncertainties.

So today, we proudly say together, THANK YOU!. Thank you, Joseph, for your courage when it would have been easier to walk away. Thank you for your trust when the future was unclear. Thank you for welcoming the Light of the world into your home. With gratitude and joy, we honour you—and we ask for hearts like yours, ready to receive Christ with wonder and love.

By Fr. Thomas O'Brien a.a.