Commentary on the Readings for Sunday – Dec. 20, 2009
The Forth Sunday in Advent
Although we are getting very close to the great and awesome day of Christmas, the Readings for the 4th Sunday in Advent give us some of both the highs and the lows in the life of Jesus Christ which serve to remind us that, although we are celebrating the birth of our Divine Savior which is a “high,” there is a darker side that we must not forget. Likewise, when celebrating the birth of a new baby, which often causes us to think of many cute images, this particular baby is “…destined to be the rise and fall of many in Israel.” (See Luke 2:34,35)
The First Reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Micah (5:1 – 4a). The message of this prophet, who lived about the 8th century BC, is dark and foreboding. He is chastising the rulers of his day because of their evil ways and all of Israel because they are not following the ways of the God of Israel. However, in this passage he gives them a ray of hope through this prophesy concerning the restoration of Israel and the coming of “…One who is to be ruler in Israel.” This was to be a great honor for this little village, Bethlehem, but it was also to be the village where Herod had the little innocent babies slaughtered. (See Matt: 2:6 and 16)
The Responsorial Psalm (80:2-3, 15-19). This is a prayer that the people of the Prophet Micah’s time should have prayed and taken seriously. Unfortunately, it was written much later and by a different group of people who were in a desperate period of history and truly called upon the Father, the ‘Shepherd of Israel,’ to “come to save us and protect what your right hand has planted.” What a different tone! In this psalm, the writer uses the term ‘Son of Man’ which Jesus used to refer to Himself rather than ‘Son of God’ which any first-born Jewish male could claim to be. At the end they ask for “new Life” which, of course, the Christ Child did eventually bring through His death and resurrection.
The Second Reading is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews (10:5 – 10). In this passage, the writer is saying that Jesus quoted from Psalm 40:6-8 in referring to Himself as the Divine sin offering that needed to be offered but only once for the forgiveness of all sin, past, current and future and, He did it to fulfill the will of His Father on our behalf. In other words, the Father “…gave His only son that we might have life.” In doing so, Jesus fulfilled the First covenant and established the New and Eternal Covenant and that is what we are celebrating at Christmas – the entry into this world of the “One who is to be ruler of the New Israel.”
The Gospel Reading is taken from the Gospel of Luke (1:39 -45). On a much lighter side, in this passage, we have the beautiful scene of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, coming to visit and help her relative, Elizabeth. These two women are destined for great joy and much sorrow, but at this point all they can think about is the birth of each of their babies but under very unique circumstances each. Elizabeth realizes that Mary is blessed with the privilege of carrying the Lord within her, and Mary knows that Elizabeth’s pregnancy is for a much higher purpose than either of them could know at this point. So, obviously, the two women must have celebrated their good fortune and put aside for another day the sorrow that was to come. So let us celebrate with Mary and Elizabeth and the whole world, but let us also keep in mind that Christmas, the birth of Christ, is not ‘just for children’. It is for all mankind; the gift of the Father and, that being said, what is YOUR gift to Him?
MFB
Sunday Commentary
Commentary on the Readings for Sunday – Dec. 20, 2009
The Forth Sunday in Advent
Although we are getting very close to the great and awesome day of Christmas, the Readings for the 4th Sunday in Advent give us some of both the highs and the lows in the life of Jesus Christ which serve to remind us that, although we are celebrating the birth of our Divine Savior which is a “high,” there is a darker side that we must not forget. Likewise, when celebrating the birth of a new baby, which often causes us to think of many cute images, this particular baby is “…destined to be the rise and fall of many in Israel.” (See Luke 2:34,35)
The First Reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Micah (5:1 – 4a). The message of this prophet, who lived about the 8th century BC, is dark and foreboding. He is chastising the rulers of his day because of their evil ways and all of Israel because they are not following the ways of the God of Israel. However, in this passage he gives them a ray of hope through this prophesy concerning the restoration of Israel and the coming of “…One who is to be ruler in Israel.” This was to be a great honor for this little village, Bethlehem, but it was also to be the village where Herod had the little innocent babies slaughtered. (See Matt: 2:6 and 16)
The Responsorial Psalm (80:2-3, 15-19). This is a prayer that the people of the Prophet Micah’s time should have prayed and taken seriously. Unfortunately, it was written much later and by a different group of people who were in a desperate period of history and truly called upon the Father, the ‘Shepherd of Israel,’ to “come to save us and protect what your right hand has planted.” What a different tone! In this psalm, the writer uses the term ‘Son of Man’ which Jesus used to refer to Himself rather than ‘Son of God’ which any first-born Jewish male could claim to be. At the end they ask for “new Life” which, of course, the Christ Child did eventually bring through His death and resurrection.
The Second Reading is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews (10:5 – 10). In this passage, the writer is saying that Jesus quoted from Psalm 40:6-8 in referring to Himself as the Divine sin offering that needed to be offered but only once for the forgiveness of all sin, past, current and future and, He did it to fulfill the will of His Father on our behalf. In other words, the Father “…gave His only son that we might have life.” In doing so, Jesus fulfilled the First covenant and established the New and Eternal Covenant and that is what we are celebrating at Christmas – the entry into this world of the “One who is to be ruler of the New Israel.”
The Gospel Reading is taken from the Gospel of Luke (1:39 -45). On a much lighter side, in this passage, we have the beautiful scene of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, coming to visit and help her relative, Elizabeth. These two women are destined for great joy and much sorrow, but at this point all they can think about is the birth of each of their babies but under very unique circumstances each. Elizabeth realizes that Mary is blessed with the privilege of carrying the Lord within her, and Mary knows that Elizabeth’s pregnancy is for a much higher purpose than either of them could know at this point. So, obviously, the two women must have celebrated their good fortune and put aside for another day the sorrow that was to come. So let us celebrate with Mary and Elizabeth and the whole world, but let us also keep in mind that Christmas, the birth of Christ, is not ‘just for children’. It is for all mankind; the gift of the Father and, that being said, what is YOUR gift to Him?
MFB