Thursday of the Third Week of Advent – December 18

IMMANUEL

Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II

Introduction

When the kings of God’s people had not fulfilled their mission of guiding the people to God, the prophet Jeremiah announces that God would do away with them and become himself the shepherd of his people. But he will make this new beginning through a human, a virtuous shoot of the house of David. Through him, God would become his people’s integrity, the cause of our fidelity.

In the New Testament, as Matthew tells us, Jesus is this Son of David through Joseph and Mary and at the same time God’s own Son. He is indeed “God our integrity,” and Immanuel, “God-with-us,” Jesus, whose name means “Savior.”

Opening Prayer

Lord, faithful God,
in Jesus you have given us someone
taken from our human flesh and blood,

a man, yet your Son,
through whom you want to restore
integrity and fidelity among us.
Help us to give with him,
to you and also to one another,
the proper and adequate response
of faithful, serving love,
which you expect from your people.
Be our God for ever
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading

Jeremiah 23:5-8

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
“The LORD our justice.”

Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,
when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives,
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”;
but rather, "As the LORD lives,
who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north”–
and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Alleluia Verse

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

Prayers of the Faithful

– Lord Jesus, give us the integrity and the sense of justice that keep escaping us, we pray:

– Lord, may we learn from you to have pity on the weak and the needy, as you are good to us and merciful, we pray:

– Lord, as you are with us, make us also stand by the side of our brothers and sisters in their spiritual and materials needs, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
only someone untouched by sin
could love you as you deserve
and make us, sinful people

capable of responding to your love
as your sons and daughters.
Let these offerings be the sign,
that we expect your Son with hope
and that we are willing to follow him
on his loyal way of obedience to your will
and commitment to your justice and love.
Accept us in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord, saving God,
we give you thanks for accepting us
in your Son, Jesus Christ.
In him, you make us both
those who are saved
and those who have to save themselves
and their brothers and sisters.
Make us fully aware
that we are your messianic people.
Help us to respond to your initiative of love
with all our cooperation.
So that one day all humanity may belong to you
and honor you as the Father of all
through our brother, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Do not be afraid, God is with you. We live in his hands, for he has given us Jesus, our Savior and friend. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION:

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

There are things in our life we are not proud of, some of which we may even be ashamed. But all these are part of who we are, which we cannot but accept, not with resignation but with thanks, knowing that grace builds on nature, that God’s power is made perfect in our imperfections.

Take comfort for you are not alone because even the Son of God was born an illegitimate child. The Gospel could have simply glossed over this but presented us instead the story of our salvation that began with a family “scandal.” Thanks to God who intervened by sending Joseph to take his place with Mary and Jesus.

O Jesus, mighty Lord, you yourself suffered lack and want in your life when you lived among us, come and reach out to us in our weaknesses and imperfections to set us free and share with us your divinity. Amen.

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‘God with us’ is the eternal promise

The genealogy of Jesus reminds us that God’s grace often unfolds through unexpected and unconventional circumstances, and it highlights how God works through human weakness to fulfil His divine plan. Today, as the Church faces challenges in a world marked by divisions, injustices, and rapid changes, this message offers hope: God’s mercy transcends societal norms and human limitations.

Mary’s “irregular” situation as a virgin conceiving by the Holy Spirit reflects God’s disruptive intervention in history, reminding us that divine purposes often clash with human expectations. Joseph’s response—a justice rooted in mercy rather than rigid legalism—invites us to consider how we navigate contemporary challenges with compassion. In Hong Kong, where societal tensions and economic uncertainties persist, Joseph’s example calls us to embody Christ’s love by prioritising care for the vulnerable and fostering reconciliation amid discord.

The names of Jesus—Jesus ("Yahweh saves") and Immanuel ("God with us")—offer comfort in our turbulent times. Globally, as the Church addresses issues like synodality, environmental stewardship, and the digital transformation of evangelisation, these names affirm God’s enduring presence and His call to active engagement in building His kingdom.

Our rich Catholic heritage reminds us that, like the genealogy of Jesus, our community’s story is a tapestry of diverse individuals united in faith. As we navigate contemporary challenges, let us trust in God’s providence and, like Joseph, choose mercy over judgment.

May Jesus, our Savior and Immanuel, inspire us to be beacons of hope, building bridges of peace and justice in a world yearning for God’s love. "God with us" is our assurance and mission today.