The Fourth Sunday of Advent is focused on Christ’s imminent coming to us as an infant born of Mary. The opening hymn, #886 “Immaculate Mary,” inspires us through Mary’s willingness to serve our Lord’s plans by bringing forth the one who – as the First Reading testifies to – will rule Israel. In Psalm #1002 “Lord, Make Us Turn to You,” we sing that the Lord will protect and save us, as the Second Reading acknowledges, by offering Himself as the Father willed. The preparation hymns, #420 “Creator of the Stars at Night” and “God of All People” (#412), anticipate Jesus coming to us all as an innocent child born of Mary. The Liturgy of the Eucharist will be found in the Mass of Light, starting with #361 “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The Communion hymn celebrates Mary in the canticle “The Magnificat” (#102). For the end of today’s service, let’s go forth praying for our divine Messiah to come to earth with hymn #401 “O Come Divine Messiah.”
