In the Spirit of Ember Wednesday in Advent (Feria IV Quattuor Temporum in Adventu)
The season of Advent, especially as marked by the Ember Days, invites the faithful into a period of penitence, fasting, and anticipation for the coming of Christ. The readings for Feria IV Quattuor Temporum in Adventu, Isaiah 7:10-15 and Luke 1:26-38, bring us to the heart of this mystery: the promise of the Incarnation. These passages are ripe for reflection, especially when viewed through the lens of the Church Fathers, who provide profound insight into their spiritual depths.
Isaiah 7:10-15: The Promise of Emmanuel
In Isaiah 7, we encounter King Ahaz, who, in his distrust and worldly fear, hesitates to seek a sign from God. Yet God, in His abundant mercy, offers a sign nonetheless:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
St. Ambrose, reflecting on this prophecy, writes that it was not Ahaz’s lack of faith that compelled God to give the sign, but His desire to manifest the coming of Christ for all generations:
“The Lord Himself will give you a sign—not at your request, for you have not asked, but at His own desire, because He will not suffer the mystery of so great a salvation to be hidden” (On the Gospel of Luke, 1.34).
This promise of Emmanuel, “God with us,” encapsulates the heart of Advent. It reminds us that the Incarnation is entirely God’s initiative, a gift of unmerited grace. St. Irenaeus emphasizes that in this prophecy, God declares His intention to heal the rupture caused by sin through the coming of the Virgin-born Messiah:
“The Lord Himself, therefore, will give a sign to the house of David. For after this manner is it proper that God should be seen by men: through the Virgin giving birth” (Against Heresies, 3.21.5).
Luke 1:26-38: The Annunciation—Fulfillment of the Promise
In the Gospel of Luke, the Angel Gabriel brings the long-awaited promise to fulfillment in his message to Mary:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28).
Here, the silence of centuries is broken. The Virgin of Isaiah’s prophecy is revealed to be Mary, who freely consents to God’s will with her fiat:
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
The Fathers see Mary’s fiat as the hinge of salvation history. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in a famous homily, vividly depicts the anticipation of heaven and earth as they await her response:
“You have heard, O Virgin, that you shall conceive and bear a Son; you have heard that it shall not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer… Answer quickly, O Virgin. Why do you delay? The whole world is waiting for your reply!” (Homily on the Annunciation).
Mary’s fiat reveals her as the new Eve, whose obedience undoes the disobedience of the first woman. St. Irenaeus explains:
“As the former was seduced to disobey God, so the latter was persuaded to obey God, that the Virgin Mary might become the advocate of the virgin Eve” (Against Heresies, 5.19.1).
The Incarnation thus begins not with a triumphant display of power, but in humility and the hidden consent of a young maiden in Nazareth. This moment exemplifies the paradox of the Gospel: that God accomplishes His greatest works through the lowly and humble.
The Spirit of the Ember Days
The Ember Days, with their focus on penance, thanksgiving, and preparation, draw us into the contemplative posture needed to appreciate the magnitude of these readings. They teach us to imitate Mary’s fiat by embracing God’s will in our lives with humility and trust.
St. Leo the Great reminds us that the fasting and prayers of the Ember Days are not ends in themselves but a preparation for receiving Christ with purified hearts:
“Let the discipline of fasting be practiced with cheerfulness; let the exercise of mercy be accompanied by purity of mind. For what we forego by fasting should be directed to the benefit of others” (Sermon on the December Ember Days).
In this Advent season, we are called to become like Mary: open, humble, and receptive to the grace of God. As we meditate on the promise of Emmanuel and its fulfillment, let us imitate her readiness to say, “Let it be done unto me,” allowing Christ to dwell within us and transform our lives.
May these sacred days of Advent purify our hearts, and may the light of the Incarnation, heralded by the angel and prophesied by Isaiah, draw us ever closer to the mystery of God’s love made flesh.
Reflection Prayer
Heavenly Father, through the Virgin Mary’s fiat, You brought Your Son into the world for our salvation. Grant us the grace to embrace Your will with the same humility and trust. As we await the celebration of Christ’s Nativity, may we prepare our hearts to receive Him with joy, gratitude, and love. Amen.