In the Catholic calendar, we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent the final step of our Advent journey.
For weeks, we have been on a journey of waiting.
Waiting with hope.
Waiting with faith.
Waiting with love.
That journey is almost complete.
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Church invites us to slow down, to quiet our hearts, and to prepare a dwelling place for the One who is about to arrive Emmanuel, God with us.
This Sunday centers on Mary’s YES to God.
A beautiful YES.
A courageous YES.
A YES spoken in faith, humility, and love.
Through her obedience, God entered human history. Mary teaches us that true preparation is not found in noise or busyness, but in trust, surrender, and openness to God’s will.
THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE – THE CANDLE OF LOVE
Today we light the fourth candle of Advent, often called the Candle of Love or the Angel’s Candle. It reminds us that God’s love is not distant or abstract it is personal, gentle, and present. Christ comes not demanding perfection, but asking for a willing heart.
As the Advent wreath now shines fully, our waiting turns into joyful expectation.
✨ A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Advent dates back to the early centuries of the Church as a season of preparation for the birth of Christ. The Fourth Sunday of Advent developed as the final moment of reflection before Christmas, focusing especially on Mary’s role in salvation history. The Gospel readings traditionally proclaim the Annunciation, highlighting Mary’s faith and total trust in God’s plan.
WHY THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT IS IMPORTANT FOR CATHOLICS
• It calls us to interior preparation, not outward perfection
• It reminds us that God enters the world through humility
• It teaches us to say “YES” to God in our own lives
• It prepares our hearts to receive Jesus with faith, hope, and love
As we stand at the threshold of Christmas, the Church gently reminds us:
Christ comes quietly. Love arrives humbly. Grace is already near.
🙏 May this Fourth Sunday of Advent help us listen more deeply, trust more fully, and love more generously as we prepare our hearts to receive Jesus, the Light of the World.
✨ Oh come, Emmanuel.
✨ A blessed Fourth Sunday of Advent to us all.
#FourthSundayOfAdvent #AdventJourney #CandleOfLove #MarysYes #CatholicFaith #PrepareYourHeart #Emmanuel #AdventSeason #CatholicChurch #WaitingInHope