THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

Fourth Sunday of Advent

21 December 2025

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The Sunday

Sermon

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Dear Friends in Christ,

This week, once again, we will celebrate the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has extensively commercialized this celebration, diverting many eyes from our souls and spiritual matters to our bodies and worldly concerns. It appears that we need to hear the words of Saint John the Baptist again, today, in our current lives. "…Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled: and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain …" The materialism of today's world is in stark contrast to the poverty, humility, and simplicity of Jesus and the Holy Family at His Birth. The only appropriate way to celebrate Jesus' Birth is by imitating Him. We must, at least, spiritually, turn away from present materialism if we are to approach the Manger in Bethlehem honestly.

Though Sacramental Baptism can be received only once, we can and should enter into the spiritual Baptism of repentance for sins and the amendment of our lives, as Saint John the Baptist preached. We can stop and observe how far we have strayed from being good disciples of Jesus Christ. We can repent of our sins, confess them, and set about doing penance for them.

The Gospel reading for this Sunday directs our thoughts to Saint John the Baptist. Today, we see him preaching the baptism of penance (Luke 3:1-6). The baptism of Saint John the Baptist was not a Sacrament that washed away sin, but rather prepared souls for repentance so that they could then approach Jesus with worthy intentions and desires. Saint John the Baptist was an immediate precursor of Jesus. He was of the Old Law, but he pointed to the New Law — Jesus Christ. He could reprove sin but could not pardon it. The pardoning is reserved to Jesus and to those He gave the power to do so in the Sacraments He has given us.

Saint Gregory Nazianzen said: "Let us here treat briefly of the different kinds of baptism. Moses baptized, but in water, in the cloud, and in the sea; but this he did figuratively. John also baptized, not indeed in the rite of the Jews, not solely in water, but also unto the remission of sins; yet not in an entirely spiritual manner, for he had not added: in the spirit. Jesus baptized, but in the Spirit; and this is perfection. There is also a fourth baptism, which is wrought by martyrdom and blood, in which Christ Himself was also baptized, which is far more venerable than the others, in as much as it is not soiled by repeated contagion. There is yet a fifth, but more laborious, by tears; with which David each night bedewed his bed, washing his couch with tears (Ps.vi.7)."

There is a false belief that Jesus has taken all the sorrow, pain, and suffering upon Himself, freed us from all of this, and that all we need to do is enjoy His gifts with no need to follow Him in sorrow, pain, suffering, or sacrifice. This false belief is illogical and incongruous with truth and reality. Jesus did take all our sins upon Himself to make satisfactory reparation for us, but He requires that we do our part. We must daily deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. We must renounce and cast aside sin that stands between Him and us.

Does it not seem inconsistent to celebrate Jesus' Birth with feasting and merrymaking in warmth while ignoring His message of humility and sacrifice? True Christmas spirit calls us to give and serve, not indulge in excess.

True Christmas joy and celebration are found in sinlessness, simplicity, honesty, truth, and love. Inner peace of consciousness and soul brings real, lasting joy and happiness. Seeing Jesus represented to us in our Manger displays should be a constant reminder of what our sins have made Him suffer. It should fill our hearts with sorrow for causing His suffering by our sins. It should fill our hearts with love for God as we see His love for us. We should seek to sacrifice for Him as He has sacrificed for us.

He has made the infinite step from Heaven to earth; now it is up to us to make the small steps to spiritually draw ever nearer to Him, by putting our lives in order and joyfully embracing our daily crosses in reparation for our transgressions as well as in imitation and love for Jesus.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!