Fourth Sunday of Advent – 21st December 2025
Dear brothers and sisters,
We are very close to Christmas, in the last Sunday of Advent, and the Word of God invites us to approach the great mystery of the Lord’s coming not with noise or excitement, but with silence, faith, and obedience. Today all the readings speak about a God who comes, but who waits to be welcomed; about a God who is faithful to his promises; and about a man who dares to believe even when he does not understand everything.
In the first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, we meet King Ahaz. He is in a difficult situation, surrounded by fear and uncertainty. God offers him a sign, saying, “Ask for a sign from the Lord.” But Ahaz refuses. Not because he is humble, but because his heart is closed. He prefers to rely on human plans and political alliances rather than on God. So the Lord himself gives a sign: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” This is the promise of a God who does not abandon his people, even when they hesitate or turn away.
Very often, we are like Ahaz. When we face problems in our families, in our health, or in our communities, we say we believe, but deep down we rely only on our own solutions. God speaks to us, invites us, gives us signs, yet sometimes we stop asking and stop listening. And still, God remains faithful. He comes anyway. He comes in unexpected ways.