Knocked Off His Ass - 12.21.25 The Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, Ph.D.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Collect:

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-16

¹⁰Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, ¹¹Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. ¹²But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. ¹³Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. ¹⁵He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. ¹⁶For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

¹ Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
       shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
² In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
       stir up your strength and come to help us.
³ Restore us, O God of hosts; *
       show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
⁴ O Lord God of hosts, *
       how long will you be angered
       despite the prayers of your people?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
       you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
⁶ You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
       and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
⁷ Restore us, O God of hosts; *
       show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
¹⁶ Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
       the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
¹⁷ And so will we never turn away from you; *
       give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
¹⁸ Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
       show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Epistle: Romans 1:1-7

¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ²which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, ³the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ⁴and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, ⁶including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, ⁷To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. ²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”²²All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ²³“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” ²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, ²⁵but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.