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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  The wait is almost over… are you ready?

by Fr. Richard C. Macey special to The Michigan Catholic
Published December 12, 2008

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

Readings for December 21 Fourth Sunday of Advent (Dec. 21) 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38

King David offered to build a glorious house for the Lord, the Temple in Jerusalem. But God chose another person to build His temple, Solomon. God reminded David it was not his military prowess, which won the victories over all his enemies. God was already in their midst. A temple would put God in a particular place. In a tent, God traveled with His people, just as He had throughout the wilderness experience before entering the Promised Land.

God will not allow David to "build me a house." That would connect the temple only to David, since it would be at his initiative. The initiative had to come from God. Instead, Nathan prophesied that "the Lord … will establish a house for you," a Davidic dynasty.

The image of a shepherd, the one who took "care of the flock," was an image for civil and religious leaders in Israel throughout the Old Testament. Jesus would use the image of a shepherd to describe Himself, especially in the Gospel of John (10:1-18), thus demonstrating His fulfillment of the Davidic prophesy.

Throughout this passage, there is a play on the word "rest" ("rest from all your enemies … rest with your ancestors"). This word appears at the end of the first creation narrative in Genesis 2:2-3. It also is used as a promise for those who are faithful in Psalm 95. In the historical books of the Bible (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings), the concept of "rest" is tied to the conquest of the land and the building of a temple for God to reside among His people. The biblical author has joined the Davidic dynasty to this promise from God. The temple, the divine presence among the people, was not the project of David alone. But God gave the project to his dynasty to complete.

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27

These verses conclude the Letter of Paul to the Romans. They reflect a more formal liturgical style, which may indicate that the letter was read more frequently and regularly in the assembly of Christians at worship. In fact, there are early manuscripts of the letter that leave out the address to the Christians "at Rome" (Romans 1:7). The document probably attained the status of a circular letter to a general audience very shortly after its writing.

The "prophetic writings" became the second most important collection of Scripture after the Torah in the Jewish Bible. It interpreted and applied the meaning of the Law to the leaders and people of Israel. This became a test of those who were true Israelites, their observance of the Law. However, the Law and ritual of Israel were intended to bring the people into a relationship with God. They made God's abiding presence visible in their midst.

The word, "obedience," ties this line with the beginning of the letter in Romans 1:5. "Obedience of faith" is related to the meaning of shema, the word that begins the prayer of the Jews that is said five times a day. It is also written on parchment in the phylacteries and the mezuzot, a small case which was placed at a slight angle on the doorposts of Jewish homes and gateposts of Jewish cities (see Deuteronomy 6:9, 11:20). The people are told to hear (and obey!) the command of God (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Only the gospels of Matthew and Luke have infancy narratives, which contain major themes that run throughout the rest of the respective gospel. This is the second annunciation of a birth of a child in the Gospel of Luke. The first was to a man, Zechariah, the second to a woman, Mary. There are several parallels in the two accounts, although Jesus always compares more favorably against the story of John the Baptist. For one, Elizabeth is considered barren, while the virginity of Mary is stressed and repeated in this passage: "virgin … virgin … no relations with a man." The specific events in the infancy narrative are not referred to in the rest of the Gospel.

The name of Mary is delayed until the end of the first sentence. After that, the name of Mary appears three more times. The name of the angel, Gabriel, is not repeated. Mary becomes the new "messenger" of the Gospel, which has been announced to her.

The event is woven into the history of the people of God and the earlier covenants with "the throne of David … the house of Jacob." The title "Son of the Most High … Son of God" connects the child to the Messianic expectation of that time. He is to have a very important role in the salvific history of God's people.

The announcement that "the Holy Spirit will come upon you" recalls the image of creation in Genesis 1. It is also an image for the Baptism of Jesus, when the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus at the beginning of His public life (Luke 3:22). It foreshadows the description of the birth of the Church on Pentecost in Acts 2, a work attributed to the same authorship as this Gospel. The Spirit is the creative power of God at work.

Another birth is also announced by the angel to Mary, the birth of John the Baptist, although his name is not mentioned. Another woman is named, Elizabeth. Her name means, "God is fullness." She completes the list of sterile women in the Old Testament, who brought forth a male child, by the power of God. Their sons were chosen by God for the salvation of Israel: Sarah (Isaac), the unnamed wife of Manoah (Samson), Hannah (Samuel). The two mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, will meet in the scene following this one (Luke 1:40).

Can we find a foundation for our destiny in the early years of life? We still have free will, and we must consent to take the path shown to us. But, after the years have passed, can you connect the dots in your life and find a line that leads to where you are now?

We had a practice in our family on the first birthday of a child. A silver dollar, a rosary and a shot glass are placed on the tray in front of the child. Whichever one is taken first indicates the role of life to unfold in the life of the child when they mature. I didn't know it until I was ordained, but my sister swears that I chose the rosary. There have been other "coincidences" in life that have led to where I am now. However, I didn't recognize them as signposts until after I had passed them by.

The coming of each of us has been announced by the Lord – first to our parents and then to the rest of the world. Life is not just a time to squander or even to wait until death, but to complete what we were given to do to fulfill God's pronouncement for us. So, be prepared!

Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.