RENUNGAN – 21 DISEMBER 2025
Renungan Hujung Minggu (21 Disember 2025)
REFLECTION ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A
Readings: 1st: Is 7:10-14; Ps: 23:1-6; 2nd: Rom 1:1- 7; Gos: Mt 1:18-24
Shalom Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Today marked the fourth and last Sunday of Advent before we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the Messiah in a few days to come. We have now lit all the four Advent’s candles that focus on the 4 virtues that we Christians should have, namely Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. As we await for the Messiah’s arrival, the church calls us to prepare through increased prayer, reflection, repentance and acts of charity, essentially doing “spiritual housekeeping” to clear obstacles and open our hearts to receive Christ.
This week, God has revealed to us a highly significant sign, His chosen Messiah would come from the lineage of king David through Mary and Joseph. However, Mary’s child belongs to all nations which we all form part of. This is through God’s love and invitation to share in Christ’s heritage who is coming fo our sake.
Our focus in this fourth week of Advent is love. All the readings talk about the birth of the Messiah that comes from the lineage of King David. Because of His deep and and unconditional love for us, God is sending us His Son Jesus to be with us. Jesus, who is eternal, divine, all-powerful, and resides in the splendor of heaven, in perfect communion with the Father, chose to leave the majesty of heaven to dwell among us by taking on our very own human nature through the humble act of Kenosis (emptying Himself) and incarnation. He, the Creator of the universe and the Word through whom all things were made, willingly set aside His divine priviledges, His glory, and His exalted position to assume human limitations and experience the challenges and vulnerabilities of human life. He was sacrificed and died a painful death on the cross. This tremendous act of love and gesture of humility ought to astound us. It is unimaginable that our God who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God came to earth, took our human form, serve us and died for us. All of these are to provide salvation to humanity and to restore the relationship between God and His people that was broken by sin. This would not be possible if it were not for love. This is God’s love for all of us. He himself is love. In John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
So, brothers and sisters, for those of us who are still lukewarm and uncommitted Christians, starting from today, Christ invites us to empty ourselves like He did, by letting go of our pride, self-interest, and ego so that His love can flow into our lives. He wants us to show compassion and embody a servant’s heart just as He did by washing the disciples’ feet. Also to build a loving community and live out God’s will. It involves putting aside our selfish ambition, caring for the needs of others as much as our own, and living a life of practical kindness, obedience to God’s Word, and sharing faith, empowered by God’s Spirit. Amen.
Blessed advent, blessed Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Kat. Richard Jomiji Kinsil
Pastoral Formation Office, Couples for Christ, Sabah
St. Therese Child of Jesus, Kolopis
St. Michael Parish, Penampang
