The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Look for the Unexpected
When it feels like our worth is measured by status, power, or how much noise you make, today’s readings remind us that God doesn’t work like that. He chooses the small, the overlooked, and the unexpected to reveal His greatness. It’s a reminder that what we might dismiss as insignificant can hold the seeds of something incredible.
Take Bethlehem, for example. In the first reading from Micah, God declares that from this tiny, seemingly unimportant town will come the ruler of Israel. Bethlehem was the kind of place you’d pass through without a second thought. Yet, it became the birthplace of Christ. This isn’t just a historical fact—it’s a reflection of how God works. He sees value where others don’t, and He uses the humble to carry out His plans. That’s encouraging for anyone who’s ever felt too small, too ordinary, or too insignificant. God’s plans don’t depend on where you come from or how the world sees you.
Then there’s the story of Mary and Elizabeth in the Gospel. It’s such a beautiful, human moment—Mary, a young girl from nowhere special, and Elizabeth, older and thought to be past her time, come together in this quiet joy. Mary carries Jesus, and Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist. Both women are part of something far bigger than themselves, and they recognize it. Elizabeth’s words to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled”, capture something we all need to hear. Faith is what opens us to God’s work in our lives. It’s not about having all the answers but about trusting that God can do extraordinary things even when everything feels uncertain.
Both women lean into God’s plan without needing all the details. Mary says “yes” to something she couldn’t fully understand, and Elizabeth rejoices in what God is doing in her life and in Mary’s. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t always flashy. Sometimes, it’s about saying “yes” in the quiet moments and trusting that God will work through them.
This idea ties back to the second reading, where Christ says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” It’s a surrender—not a passive resignation but an active choice to trust God’s plan. So often we struggle with control, wanting to know the outcomes before we commit. But these readings remind us that faith isn’t about certainty in the details; it’s about certainty in God.
These readings remind us that we don’t need to have everything figured out for God to work through us. We just need to trust Him and say “yes,” even when it feels like we’re too small or our lives are too ordinary to matter. Bethlehem was small, Mary was young, and Elizabeth’s time seemed past, yet look what God did with them. Maybe He’s doing something in us, too, even if we don’t see it yet.
