Let the Lord Enter, He is the King of Glory!
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December 20, 2025We are now getting closer to the celebration ofJesus’ birth; we have lighted the fourth candle ofAdvent which is a reminder of that great genuine love, - the birth of Jesus as a manifestation of God’s love to the world, the fulfillment of his promise of salvation.
In the Gospel, the angel, appearing to St. Joseph in a dream has reminded him of that particular love that endures in the midst of fear. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home,” said the angel. Yes, St. Joseph was afraid upon learning that Mary was conceiving a child in her womb. He was afraid knowing that this could lead to a disaster as Mary might be stoned to death because of adultery and divorcing her quietly would pave a way for Mary to be able to be with whoever the father of the child was. Only a genuine love could understand and accept that “it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.” St. Joseph has lifted his genuine love towards Mary and so when he awoke, “he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”
St. Joseph’s kind of love in the midst of fear is an invitation to us as we come nearer to the great feast of Jesus’ birth. It is an invitation not to be afraid to take that leap of faith and take Mary and her Son into our community, into our family, into our hearts even in the midst of uncertainties. Sometimes, we think that taking that challenge to let him enter into our lives would mean a bigger challenge is awaiting us or a bigger responsibility has to be taken up. The same concern of King Ahaz in our first reading. He doesn’t want to ask any sign from God, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord,” he said. At first glance, it seemed it was a genuine response not to try to tempt the Lord, but digging deeply, King Ahaz was adamant to ask because if it was granted, the more that it would be difficult for him to escape from what God was asking him to do, to have a complete trust in him, that God would protect his kingdom from their enemies.
Not being afraid to accept Jesus into our lives and letting him dwell is a genuine response of love to the greatest love of all. It is not losing our own identity nor taking up a bigger responsibility but letting that genuine love be the Emmanuel, God-with-us. That was the promise of God to King Ahaz which he and his people did not wholeheartedly believe. The same Emmanuel,God-with-us, whom St. Joseph lovingly welcomed into his home is the Emmanuel, God-with-us who wants to enter into our homes and lives. He is the genuine love of God made present into the world inJesus, the Word made flesh.
And so entering into the last Sunday of Advent before the great feast of Jesus’ birth, we echo our Responsorial Psalm, “Let the Lord enter, He is the King of Glory!” Do not be afraid to let him enter into your home and into your heart for he is the Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Christ Jesus that saves!