Family Bible Study - 4th Sunday of Advent

Gospel Passage
Matt. 1:18 Now 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. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and
unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her
quietly. 20 But 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. 21 She will bear a son,
and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from
their sins.” 22 All 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.” 24 When Joseph awoke from
sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her
as his wife.
Questions for discussion -
1. What does the name “Jesus” mean? (Hint: the Angel tells St. Joseph what it
means in verse 21.)
2. We also call Jesus “Emmanuel.” What does this mean? How is this true in
your life? Is God with you, too?
3. What was miraculous about the birth of Jesus?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Fourth Sunday of Advent

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
O Root of Jesse, who stands for an ensign of the
people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto
whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver
us, and tarry not.
The flower which springs up from the root of Jesse
is another figure of Christ. Isaiah prophesied that the Savior
would be born from the root of Jesse, that He would sit upon
the throne of David, and in Christ this prophecy is fulfilled.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - 4th Sunday of Advent

Gospel Passage
Luke 1:39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town
in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her
womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with
a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your
womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord
comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child
in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there
would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Questions for Discussion

1. Both women, Mary and Elizabeth, were going to have babies. When Mary
spoke, Elizabeth’s baby moved inside her. When you receive Jesus in Holy
Communion, you also have Jesus within you. Will you bring Jesus to people
you know and help them to get very excited with love for Jesus too? How can
you do this?

2. St. Elizabeth says to Mary, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is
the fruit of your womb!” When do we say these words? Why is Mary blessed
among women?

3. St. Elizabeth says Mary is blessed because she believed that the words
spoken to her by the Lord would really happen. What words do you think
St. Elizabeth is talking about? (Hint: reread line 43)
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry