The readings for the fourth Sunday in Advent are taken from Isaiah 7:10-17; Romans 1:1-7; and Matthew 1:18-25.
Sometimes the lessons and their intersections are plain. Re-reading the lessons is a best practice and wonderful. Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would conceive and bear a Son, Immanuel, which means “God with us.”
Paul, in his letter to the Romans, provided a wonderful summary of the good message. The good message concerns God’s Son, seed of David according to the flesh, Son of God, with power according to the Holy Spirit, by resurrection from the dead.
Matthew has the first record of the birth of Jesus in 50 AD. Mary was betrothed to Joseph but found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. Gabriel (“God is strong”) relieved Joseph of his distress by explaining the nature of Mary’s baby. This baby is Immanuel and called Jesus, which means “salvation is of the Lord.”