Advent 2025: Fourth Sunday of Advent Reflection
Of all of the prophecies about Jesus Christ, those in the Book of Isaiah are some of the most famous and prominent. Isaiah gives us more prophecies about Christ, His birth, life, ministry, suffering, and resurrection than any other Prophet. This is why he is often called the “Fifth Gospel,” because he provides so many insights into the radical history-changing message of the Gospel, and he does this some 700 years before the birth of Jesus.
Part of the Gospel message is that God is both good and that He actually loves and cares for us. He is a personal God, an intimate God. This is in stark contrast to the gods of ancient pagan religions, who view humans as mere servants. Chapters 40 through 42 of Isaiah provide an absolutely wonderful description of how even though God is so radically different from us, He also loves us, and He will demonstrate this love through the miracle of the Incarnation.
“To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?” (Isaiah 40:18). The Prophet begins with the highest mystery, God Himself, who is so wonderfully far above and beyond humans. He is so beyond our comprehension that even our best theological language falls short of truly explaining the mystery of God. The power of God infinitely exceeds the supposed power of ancient idols who are made of wood and stone. But Isaiah goes further when he promises that this mysterious God loves His creation: “But you, Israel, my servant… whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; … I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:8-10). God refers to a human as his friend, and He stoops down to our level to come to our aid, and this is the gift of Christmas. Shortly after this meditation, Isaiah shows us just how this God will demonstrate His love: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1). By becoming man, God does something which no other god would ever do: assume the nature of His creation in order to experience their sufferings, redeem them, and show His everlasting love for them. Jesus Christ, the God-Man, experiences all that we experience except for committing sin.
What does this mean for the adult child of divorce? Jesus’ human parents—Mary and Joseph—certainly did not experience the pain of divorce. He grew up with the best possible human parents. If He experiences all that we experience, how can He truly know my pain? I think the answer lies in chapter 40 of Isaiah: in the all-knowing otherness of Almighty God. He who created the universe and foresaw everything—both sin and evil as well as the resurrection, the Church, and the saints—also created and foresaw me. He saw my existence. He saw that I would be born amidst a terrible divorce, something which still pains me as an adult, and He said “yes, he should exist.” If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, then I can trust that He knows my pain, and He only allowed it because He can and does bring good out of it. Such is the miracle and gift of Christmas: God takes the pains of history and enters into them, transforming them into the greatest good and the greatest story ever told.
A Prayer to the Holy Wounds of Jesus
O Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you for your five sacred wounds.
In your Left Foot, I sink and hide all the sins I have ever committed; have mercy on me.
In your Right Foot, I sink and bury all my desires, that they may be purified and remain unspotted by any earthly stain.
In your Left Hand, I enclose all my spiritual and bodily ills, that in union with your sufferings they may become sweet to me, and by patience become a fragrant scent before God.
In your Right Hand, I hide all the omissions which I have committed, that they may be atoned for by your ardent works.
In your Sweetest Sacred Heart, I place myself, and there unite my imperfect love to your Divine Love, that it may be perfected.
On all your Wounds, I lay flowers of gratitude, and I ask in return that You mend my heart with the dart of your love.
Amen.
(Prayer inspired by and adapted from the writings of St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn. It can be found on the Life-Giving Wounds website here.)
About Fr. Alfredo:
Fr. Alfredo was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ in June of this year for the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia. Although he was trained as a mechanical engineer, he decided to quit his job in research with the Navy to enter the seminary and give his life to God and His Church. Today, he serves at St. William of York in Stafford and loves every day of his priesthood. Each day is new and there is always so much more to learn.
About the author:
Brett Manero teaches for the Lay Division at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, Colorado. Born and raised in Connecticut, he studied History at the University of St Andrews and Systematic Theology at Christendom College. He enjoys discussing Theology, Scripture, History, Film, and Music. A child of divorce since his birth, he finds his identity in the love of the Trinity and the truth of the Catholic Church.
Reflection Questions for Small Groups or Individuals:
How do you view God’s relationship with yourself? Distant or personal?
What does it mean to you, personally, that God is with you?
Take a moment to reflect on two lines from Brett’s reflection: “God refers to a human as his friend, and He stoops down to our level to come to our aid, and this is the gift of Christmas.” And, “God takes the pains of history and enters into them, transforming them into the greatest good and the greatest story ever told.” What thoughts are feelings arise as it relates to your experience as an ACOD?
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