4th Sunday of Advent C
The Readings United States
4th Sunday C - 4th Sunday C (2012) - Rev. Richard Bugden
4th Sunday C - Fr. Scott Hastings (Audio)
4th Sunday C - Dcn. Bill O'Donnell
4th Sunday C (2012) - Dcn Bill O'Donnell
4th Sunday C - Dcn. Jodi Moscona
4th Sunday C - Dcn. Chuck Stevens
Linked Homilies (Off-Site)
THE WORD BECAME FLESH IN MARY’S WOMB BY THE
POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
by Mother Adela, SCTJM
Study and Exegesis
Possible Themes
Jesus, The Fruit of Mary's Womb - Joy - Salvation - Service - Standing Firm - Shepherding - Submission - Will of God - Strength - Visitation -
Key Phrases
I come to do your will.
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD
Illustrations
During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanted to buy food for his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, "Colonel, just ask for it!" A smile broke over Roosevelt's face. Now he understood--the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely.
Our Daily Bread, October 11, 1992.
From St. Thomas Aquinas
"BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB"
The sinner often seeks for something which he does not find; but to the
just man it is given to find what he seeks: "The substance of the sinner is
kept for the just."[29] Thus, Eve sought the fruit of the tree (of good and
evil), but she did not find in it that which she sought. Everything Eve
desired, however, was given to the Blessed Virgin.[30] Eve sought that which
the devil falsely promised her, namely, that she and Adam would be as gods,
knowing good and evil. "You shall be," says this liar, "as gods."[31] But he
lied, because "he is a liar and the father of lies."[32] Eve was not made
like God after having eaten of the fruit, but rather she was unlike God in
that by her sin she withdrew from God and was driven out of paradise. The
Blessed Virgin, however, and all Christians found in the Fruit of her womb
Him whereby we are all united to God and are made like to Him: "When He
shall appear, we shall be like to Him, because we shall see Him as He
is."[33]
Eve looked for pleasure in the fruit of the tree because it was good to
eat. But she did not find this pleasure in it, and, on the contrary, she at
once discovered she was naked and was stricken with sorrow. In the Fruit of
the Blessed Virgin we find sweetness and salvation: "He that eateth My
flesh . . . hath eternal life."[34]
The fruit which Eve desired was beautiful to look upon, but that Fruit of
the Blessed Virgin is far more beautiful, for the Angels desire to look
upon Him: "Thou art beautiful above the sons of men."[35] He is the splendor
of the glory of the Father. Eve, therefore, looked in vain for that which
she sought in the fruit of the tree, just as the sinner is disappointed in
his sins. We must seek in the Fruit of the womb of the Virgin Mary
whatsoever we desire. This is He who is the Fruit blessed by God, who has
filled Him with every grace, which in turn is poured out upon us who adore
Him: "Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with spiritual blessings in Christ."[36] He, too, is revered by
the Angels: "Benediction and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and
power and strength, to our God."[37] And He is glorified by men: "Every
tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the
Father."[38] The Blessed Virgin is indeed blessed, but far more blessed is
the Fruit of her womb: "Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the
Lord."[39]