On this Fourth and final Sunday of Advent, Tony highlights the contrast between King Ahaz and St. Joseph. As he explains, the difference in the two is a matter of faith. King Ahaz’s lack of faith prevents him from carrying out his role in the drama of salvation, while St. Joseph’s authentic faith enables him to play a crucial role in the salvation of the human family.
Mass Readings:
Reading 1: Isaiah 7:10-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Reading 2: Romans 1:1-7
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24
Endnotes:
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 46.
Matthew 22:36-40
John 8:7
Proverbs 24:16
John 8:11
See Philippians 2:5
St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, 4.14.2.
St. Cyril of Alexandria, On the Unity of Christ.
Tony Crescio is the founder of FRESHImage Ministries. He holds an MTS from the University of Notre Dame and is currently a PhD candidate in Christian Theology at Saint Louis University. His research focuses on the intersection between moral and sacramental theology. His dissertation is entitled, Presencing the Divine: Augustine, the Eucharist and the Ethics of Exemplarity.
Tony’s academic publications can be found here.