Gospel-Homily for Fourth Sunday of Advent (2024)

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Consecrated Means Belonging.

I love familiarity. That is why I am not fond of upgrades. I cannot even turn on the TV. I grabbed the remote and said, “See, this does not work.” Someone retorted, “Because that is the remote to turn on the AC.” I was the last person to have a flip phone. I loved the flip phone. I could make a call, and I did not have to stare at the thing all day. Lo and behold, I went fishing one day and dropped my phone in the ocean. So, my community replaced it with an iPhone. I love it. I can text, take pictures, and send them, and I can find out how to get to places with it.

The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that God sent His Son into the world to give us an upgrade. Do you remember what that up-grade is called? It is called consecration. When someone is consecrated, it means that, through Christ, we belong. Let me give you some context.

I belong to a running club, and I just hosted our Christmas party. They called it the “Holiday” party. There was a lot of happiness in that room. Not only do we all run, but we shared a lot of good news. Some members became engaged, some were just married, some had their first baby, and some just graduated. One of the members ran a marathon to qualify for the Boston Marathon. He ran the marathon and missed the cut by three seconds. Imagine how devastating that would be. The Boston Marathon people gave our club four bibs, and the guy who missed the cut by three seconds is now running the Boston Marathon for the first time. During the night, we all experienced a piling of one good news and blessing after the other. I am very fortunate to be in such a group. It is so much better than running alone.

Imagine all these years not being able to give her husband an heir, the public shame of that, not being able to hold your own baby or a son or daughter to carry on the name and legacy of your family. Then, out of nowhere, against every odd, you have a child. Not only a child but a prophet who just informed you that you that the savior that God promised is now in the world. Not only that but the savior is in your house for the next three months with His mother helping you through the last of your pregnancy. There is a piling up of gifts, surprises, and joy. So Elizabeth asks the question. Why? All this goodness. Why is God so good to me? The answer is that Elizabeth now belongs to the divine family.

That is why Christ came into the world so that we would belong to God and experience a piling of blessings. The meaning of Christmas is God sent His Son into the world so we would have an upgrade. Now, enjoy it one blessing at a time.