TODAY’S READINGS
The first reading is from 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16. The establishment of the Davidic covenant, the last covenant of the Old Testament. We are given this today in a particular way to show how it is fulfilled in the New Testament. Let us explore this prophecy.
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever. (vv. 12b, 14a, 16)
“The pledges made to David are provisionally realized in Solomon during the golden age of the united monarchy and, to a lesser extent, in the centuries that the Davidic dynasty ruled in Jerusalem. But definitive fulfillment awaits the coming of Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah grafted into David’s dynastic line (Mt 1:1-16) and the one chosen by God to sit on David’s throne ‘for ever’ (Lk 1:32-33). Like David, Jesus is anointed by the Spirit (1 Sam 16;13; Acts 10:38), and, like Solomon, he offers the wisdom of God to the world (1 Kings 10:1-10; Mt 12:42). The temple he builds is not a stone-and-cedar sanctuary in Jerusalem, but his body, the Church of living believers indwelt by the Spirit (Mt 16;18; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:4-5). In the Resurrection, Jesus’ humanity attains the royal adoption promised to David’s offspring (Acts 13;33-34; Rom 1:3-4), and, at his Ascension, he commences his everlasting reign (Lk 1;33) as David’s messianic Lord (Mk 12:335-37). Even now, he holds the key to the kingdom of David (Rev 3:7) and bears the distinction of being ‘King of Israel’ (Jn 1:49) as well as ‘he who rises to rule the Gentiles’ (Rom 15:12). According to the very first Christian sermon, all of this is the fulfillment of Yahweh’s oath to David (Acts 2:29-35).” (The First and Second Books of Samuel [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 80)
This should make us appreciate in a special way those times when Jesus is called “Son of David” in the Gospels, considering all that’s implied in that title. For an interesting Bible study, read the passages and context around those times the Lord is addressed in this way (here — note that Jesus is addressed this way only six different times with Matthew giving us all six [Mark and Luke repeat one of the stories, the blind beggar, in Matthew). Exquisite fruit for contemplation.
The Responsorial Psalm is Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29. We should be reminded of Mary’s Magnificat. Mary knew her Scriptures — I suspect, being a uniquely bright and holy child, that she was literate, although this is not necessary for her to have this depth of knowledge and interiority of the Bible.
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations. (v. 4)
Jesus is Son of David and Son of Mary and Son of God. Wow.
The second reading is from Rom 16:25-27. Let us key in on the phrase “obedience of faith.”
…according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages…
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith… (vv. 25a, 26)
“the obedience of faith: Probably means ‘the obedience that is faith’ or ‘the obedience that springs from faith’. The expression stands like two bookends at the beginning and end of Romans (16:26). It holds the epistle together around the central theme of faith, which is the act of trusting in God and entrusting oneself to God. Faith inspires love (Gal 5:6) and is the indispensable basis for a living relationship with Christ (Rom 1:17; Heb 11:6) (CCC 143, 1814). (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010), 257.
The gift of faith comes to us with the other theological virtues (hope and love/charity) in Baptism and remains with us as long as we avoid mortal sin (thank the Lord for Confession!). It is a free gift, but it isn’t cheap. A simple statement of belief not followed by a life striving for holiness is certainly the devil’s deceit.
The Gospel gives us the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38). So much can be said about the seemingly infinite number of aspects of this encounter, but let’s focus on the first words of the angel:
Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. (v. 28)
Hail: Or ‘Rejoice!’ It crowns the theme of joy and gladness that punctuates Luke’s Infancy Narrative (1:14, 44, 47, 58; 2:10, 20). ● The call to rejoice echoes OT passages that address Daughter Zion. In the prophets this refers to Mother Jerusalem, whose faithful children will rejoice in the messianic age because God has chosen to dwell in their midst (Joel 2:23–24; Zeph 3:14–17; Zech 9:9). Mary, chosen to be the virgin mother of the Messiah, is greeted with the same summons because she is the embodiment of faithful Israel and the most privileged recipient of Yahweh’s messianic blessings. full of grace: This is the only biblical instance where an angel addresses someone by a title instead of a personal name. Two considerations help to clarify its meaning. (1) The expression full of grace is rooted in Catholic tradition and traced to St. Jerome’s translation of this verse in the Latin Vulgate. Although fundamentally accurate, it lacks some of the depth of the Greek original. Luke could have described her with the words full of grace (Gk. plērēs charitos) as he did of Stephen in Acts 6:8, yet here he uses a different expression (Gk. kecharitōmenē) that is even more revealing than the traditional rendering. It indicates that God has already ‘graced’ Mary previous to this point, making her a vessel who ‘has been’ and ‘is now’ filled with divine life. (2) Alternative translations like ‘favored one’ or ‘highly favored’ are possible but inadequate. Because of the unparalleled role that Mary accepts at this turning point in salvation history, the best translation is the most exalted one. For God endowed Mary with an abundance of grace to prepare her for the vocation of divine motherhood and to make her a sterling example of Christian holiness (CCC 490–93, 722). ● Gabriel’s declaration points in the direction of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. According to Pope Pius IX’s 1854 definition Ineffabilis Deus, Luke’s Annunciation narrative is an important indicator of Mary’s lifelong holiness. God is her ‘Savior’ (1:47) in the most perfect way possible: he sanctified Mary in the first instance of her conception and preserved her entirely from sin and even from the inclination toward sin that we experience. (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament [San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010], 105.)
Faithful Catholics have said the Hail Mary many, many times. How often do we contemplate these first words of the prayer (by the way, the Hail Mary is a biblical prayer!)? Put yourself in Mary’s sandals. This awesome creature surprises you with such a greeting. “Rejoice”! He calls me “full of grace”! What is about to happen? Might I have the inkling, the hope, that the long awaited Messiah is about to come? How will it happen? Will I be involved?
Focusing on Nathan and David.
SANTA CLAUS
A nice article about Santa Claus and keeping children’s dreams alive: Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Myths, Fairy Tales and ‘Lies.’
ADVENT ENDS
Today we end the shortest Advent possible. Yes, we must go to Mass again this evening or tomorrow. This shouldn’t be a burden but a joy and a blessing. Honoring the Lord’s first coming and then having him come to us in Holy Communion — who could possibly want to miss it!
God bless.
David and Nathan (1672) by Matthias Scheits
Unworthy Servant 