Commentaries for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

READINGS AND OFFICE: Summary of Today’s Readings: Our Lord came in fulfillment of prophecy (1st, 2nd, Gosp. readings) and became “Immanuel,” “God with us” ( 1st, Gosp.) through his resurrection from the dead (2nd reading; see also Mt 28:19-20). We pray that our Lord, “the King of glory,” will come to be with us (Ps; see also Jn 14:2-3, 17:24).

Readings from the NABRE. The translation used in the United States.

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible. Translation used in most other English speaking countries.

Divine Office.

CATECHISM SUGGESTIONS: The following links are suggested by appendix I of the Homiletic Directory published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, “with the intention of showing the link between the homily and the doctrine of the Catholic Church, references are given to the Catechism according to various doctrinal themes in the readings for each of the Sundays and Feasts of the three year cycle.”

CCC 496-507, 495: Mary’s virginal motherhood

CCC 437, 456, 484-486, 721-726: Mary the Mother of Christ by the Holy Spirit

CCC 1846: Jesus as Savior revealed to Joseph

CCC 445, 648, 695: Christ the Son of God in his Resurrection

CCC 143-149, 494, 2087: the “obedience of faith”

LINKS PRIESTS AND DEACONS MIGHT FIND HELPFUL:

Homiletic Directory on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Art. 96-109.

Catholic Liturgy and Homily Prep. Multiple resources.

Hearers of the Word: Notes on the Sunday Readings. Commentary by Catholic biblical scholar Fr. Kieran O’Mahony. Scroll down slightly to find the links to current and upcoming Sundays. The PDF documents (5 pages) are nicely done and contain very helpful background and notes on the three Sunday readings. The final page also provides brief summaries for the weekday readings. The site has other resources as well (e.g., homilies, lectures, etc.).

Agape Bible Study: Commentaries on the Sunday Readings. A comprehensive site. I’ve linked to the Sunday Readings archive page where you can access useful commentaries on the Sunday and Holy Day readings. You might also want to check out their bible studies page, it contains notes on many Old and New Testament books, along with topical studies. These could be useful for bible study groups, and the site does allow non-commercial printing and distributing of their content (see permissions).

Preachers Exchange. free e-mail and web services from the Southern Province Dominicans (O.P. = “Order of Preachers”); some also in Spanish

ePriest. To access the site fully you need to set up an account (it’s free). They offer homily packs (description here). A sample homily pack for the 3rd Sunday of lent, Year C, can be viewed here.

One Bread, One Body. From Presentation Ministries. An archive page containing links to brief commentaries on one or more of this Sunday’s readings. See their Daily Mass Reflections Page for daily resources.

Catholic Ireland. Archive page. Upcoming Sunday resources become available early in the preceding week. Contains text of Gospel reading and several homilies

COMMENTARIES ON THE FIRST READING: Isaiah 7:10-14.

Father Maas’ Commentary on Isaiah 7:10-14. On 1-17.

St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Isaiah 7:10-14. On 10-25.

Word-Sunday Notes on Isaiah 7:10-14.

Navarre Bible Commentary on Isaiah 7:10-14.

COMMENTARIES ON THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6.

Father Boylan’s Introduction to Psalm 24.

Patristic/Medieval Commentary on Psalm 24:1-6.

St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Psalm 24.

St Robert Bellarmine’s Commentary on Psalm 24.

Pope John Paul II’s Commentary on Psalm 24.

Word-Sunday Notes on Psalm 24.

COMMENTARIES ON THE SECOND READING: Romans 1:1-7.

Father de Piconio’s Commentary on Romans 1:1-7.

St John Chrysostom’s Homiletic Commentary on Romans 1:1-7.

St Thomas Aquinas’ lectures on Romans 1:1-7. Read lectures 1-4

Father Rickaby’s Commentary on Romans 1:1-7.

Father MacEvilly’s Commentary on Romans 1:1-7.

Father Callan’s Commentary on Romans 1:1-7.

Word-Sunday Notes on Romans 1:1-7.

Navarre Bible Commentary on Romans 1:1-7.

COMMENTARIES ON THE GOSPEL READING: Matthew 1:18-24.

Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on Matthew 1:18-24. This resource is different from the one following.

St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Matthew 1:18-24. Lectures 4-6 on verses 12-25. Click here to begin the commentary at verse 18.

Cornelius a Lapide’s Commentary on Matthew 1:18-24.

Father MacEvilly’s Commentary on Matthew 1:18-24. Includes 25.

My Notes on Matthew 1:18-24.

Word-Sunday Notes on Matthew 1:18-24.

Navarre Bible Commentary on Matthew 1:18-24.

VIDEOS AND PODCASTS:

Institute of Catholic Culture: Sunday Gospel Reflections. Usually looks at the 1st and gospel readings in some detail. Video 53 min.

Scott Hahn: Sunday Bible Reflections. Audio. Brief.

(1) Catholic Bible Study: 1st Reading and Psalm. By Fr. Bryan Kujawa. Video 16 min.

(2) Catholic Bible Study: Second Reading. Video 15 min.

(3) Catholic Bible Study: Gospel Reading. Video 15 min.

(1) Bishop Barron Homily: The Promise of Emmanuel.

(2) Bishop Barron’s Homily: Dream Big.

(3) History is Going Somewhere, and it Rhymes.

Hearers of the Word. Fr. Kieran O’Mahoney. Video. A biblical scholars looks at all the readings. 25 min.

Historia Ecclesiastica: Commentary on the Readings and Prayers with the Church Fathers. Audio. 50 min. Reflections on the readings but also on the entrance prayer (introit), collect, etc.