Here we are: the Fourth Sunday of Advent. For weeks now, we have been hearing prophesies of Israel’s salvation from Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah, and today Micah. However, at the time, Israel was in the midst of being conquered with its people being scattered across the Middle East. All the people of the once-great nation of Israel knew was military siege, political unrest, deportation, imprisonment, despair, defeat, and death. Most people must have thought their God had abandoned them.
Against this backdrop of misery, these prophets were telling the exiles about the eventual restoration of Israel under an eternal dynasty from the line of King David, that God would renew them through a mighty savior and ruler who would come from Bethlehem – the City of David. Imagine the longing of the Israelites to believe these things that must have sounded too impossible to believe.
Yikes, where’s the joy in that? And, what does this have to do with the Visitation? What does any of this have to do with us today?
Listen to the full homily:
He is a great teacher. I told him after Mass that even at my ripe old age :) I am still learning about our beautiful Faith and Deacon Joel gave a good lesson yesterday. God bless you both.
I do benefit from being married to the best homily editor on the planet. ;)
He’s great
After all these years, I still have both of you snowed. ;)
Haha not true on top of your knowledge , charm and great homilies , you speak German ! All around great guy!
God is great and I thank Deacon Joel and dear wife, Lisa for serving Him!!
Thank you, Elizabeth! Advent blessings – Lisa
I can’t download it, Lisa, is there a link I can go to? Merry Christmas
Here’s the SoundCloud link. I think you can just click and play right from your computer/phone/iPad. https://soundcloud.com/joel-lisa-schmidt/deacon-joels-homily-for-the-4th-week-of-advent
And Merry Christmas to you, too!
I remembered about 3 seconds after saying Bye at Mass that I should have said “Good job”, so: Good job on that homily!