Advent

Jan 29 2025

The Best Dwelling Place

In today’s first reading King David is settled in his cedar palace, no upcoming battles on the horizon, feeling quite content, glass of wine in hand, chatting with Nathan the prophet about how good life is, when he gets this inspiration: “God should have a house! Certainly more than that old tent we have been dragging around. And I will build it!” Nathan approves.

But that night, God weighs in: “Tell David, ‘Thanks, but no thanks. I like the tent.’ ” We don’t know why God said no to David. But it seems that God wanted to make clear not only who was building God’s dwelling place but also who really was in charge of everything. God was the kingdom builder and God chose to work with very simple material, like a tent. But this was nothing compared to God’s decision a millennium later, on the day when the angel Gabriel was sent to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.

God’s plan from the beginning was to take up residence among us closer than any building could be, whether it was as magnificent as Solomon’s temple or as humble as the simplest parish church. What God intended was to dwell with us as one of us, taking on human flesh and blood. And in the fullness of time God came asking if one of us would be willing. We don’t know how long it took for Mary to answer. We only remember the important thing: she said yes.

Consider/Discuss

What difference does it make that God chose to dwell among us as one of us?
Do you think of yourself as a dwelling place of God, as a temple of the Holy Spirit?
What effect does that have in daily living?

Responding to the Word

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Make your dwelling place in us this day. Let the world recognize that we are a people chosen to be a sign of your loving, merciful, justice-seeking, reconciling presence in the world. Thank you for the many ways you continue to do the impossible in us, through us. Amen.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

David has amassed enough wealth to build a palace for himself, and he is no longer threatened by enemies. The author states very clearly that the peace that David enjoys is not the result of any victory of his own but comes from the good pleasure of the Lord. Now David realizes that the progress he and his people have made politically and socially has not carried over to their religious life. He turns to the prophet Nathan and tells him that he wishes to build a fitting temple for his God. Though God legitimates the Davidic ruling line, it will be Solomon, a descendant of David, not David himself, who will build the temple.

Paul sums up the central theme of his own teaching, namely, that God’s new act of revelation in Christ will bring even the Gentiles to the commitment of faith. Paul claims that the revelation of God in Christ was really present in ages past, but as a mystery that was kept secret. This revelation might have been hidden in the past, but those who have eyes of faith today should be able to read these writings and there discover something of God’s plan. The purpose of the revelation of this mystery is universal salvation. All, Gentiles included, are to be brought to the commitment of faith.

The account of the Annunciation is cast in a traditional pattern of angelic birth announcements, alerting the reader to the divine significance of future events. Typical in angelic appearances, Mary’s reaction is fear. The angel reassures her that everything that will happen in and through her is in God’s plan. She does not question that this will happen, but how it will happen, because she is a virgin. The angel assures her that she will be overshadowed by God’s Spirit and power. The scene concludes with Mary’s acceptance. As a servant of the Lord, she is also a model of openness and receptivity.

Jan 29 2025

Rejoice Always

Certain watchwords are associated with each season of the church year, almost becoming a motto. Advent’s is “Wake up.” It then leads to other words like “Watch,” “Wait,” and “Witness.” But every Third Sunday of Advent, we anticipate the coming Christmas season, whose key word is “Rejoice.” This Sunday was traditionally called Gaudete (“Rejoice”) Sunday. Priests continue to wear rose-colored vestments today, signaling joy.

Joy is not only for Christmastime and the occasional Sunday. I remember as an altar boy, before Vatican II, Mass began with the “prayers at the foot of the altar.” The priest would begin: “I will go up to the altar of God.” The server responded: “To God who gives joy to my youth,” or as some translations had it, “To God, my exceeding joy.”

It was a reminder that God is the source of all joy and that joy is one of the great gifts of God, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul reminds us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (see Galatians 5:22). Now there is a good list for Christmas giving. Tell your loved ones your Christmas gift this year will be to pray throughout the coming year that the Spirit will bring them one of these gifts.

John’s gift to the people who came out into the wilderness was to call them to prepare for the Lord, to give them a sense of heightened anticipation that the One coming to them would fill them with joy.

Consider/Discuss

How do you think of joy? Is it the same as happiness?
Do you recognize that the Spirit who dwells in us is the giver of joy?
Have you asked for this gift?

Responding to the Word

Dear God, source and giver of joy, open my heart to receive your joy. As the Advent season continues, help me to live in a spirit of anticipation and watchful ness for how Christ continues to come into the world, a spirit of joy rooted in the awareness that you are faithful to your children. Amen.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

The anointing of the prophet mentioned in the first reading may be a figure of speech, but the duties that accompany it are very real and explicitly social. They include healing and comforting. The primary duty is prophetic proclamation. The good news promises the coming of the “year of the Lord,” a time when the poor will be the beneficiaries of the blessings of God. This will be a time when the oppressive economic and political systems will have to contend with the vengeance of God. The reading begins with a promise of salvation and ends with a prayer of thanksgiving for the salvation granted.

The Letter to the Thessalonians includes exhortation, encouragement, and blessing. Paul does not overlook the realities of suffering in life, nor does he advocate a false sense of happiness. The joy he urges is the joy that comes from knowing that in Christ’s resurrection, even death itself has been overcome. This should be the source of their thanksgiving. He admonishes the Christians to discern the spirits active within the community. He prays that God will bring to completion their holiness in every aspect: spirit, soul, and body. He ends on a note of confidence, assuring them of God’s faithfulness to the promises of salvation made to them.

The first verses of the Gospel reading clarify the identity of John the Baptist in relation to the light that is to come into the world. John is not the light, but is to bear testimony to the light. He is the voice that proclaims that the light is soon to come. The second section contains his own testimony regarding his relationship with Jesus, the man who was to come after him. John refuses to be identified with any messianic figure. He is not the messiah. His role is preparatory; he explains this when the officials question his reasons for baptizing. John is content to be the witness and the herald, nothing more.

Jan 29 2025

Roadwork in Progress

I remember hearing about a little boy coming home from church and being asked what the preacher had spoken about. The church used the King James Version of the scriptures and the preacher had spent some time on the reading from Isaiah we heard today. But that translation began: “Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God.” In response to his parents’ inquiry, the child said, “It was just lovely. The priest told us how God is saying, ‘Come to tea, come to tea, my people.’ ”

While Isaiah’s message today is certainly comforting, with God telling the prophet to speak tenderly and tell an exiled people that all is forgiven, that the punishment for sin has run its course, these words are not the equivalent of an invitation to a relaxing cup of tea. Now as then, they serve as an invitation to get to work, to remove any obstacle that prevents God from coming into our hearts. This means that we have to get our hearts into shape, and our voices have to become willing to announce that God lives and comes with power to save.

John the Baptist remains a model for us today. He spoke out boldly, calling people to prepare a way for the Lord, which was a call to conversion and inner transformation. We are to take in this same message, first as listeners, then as heralds ourselves, witnessing to family, friends, and any who will listen that Jesus desires to come more fully into our lives.

Consider/Discuss

Do you accept God’s commission to work at preparing a way for the Lord?
What does it mean today to be a herald, a proclaimer of the gospel?

Responding to the Word

Loving God, you come to us with compassion, mercy, and forgiveness, but at times we set up barriers that prevent your entry into our hearts. Teach us how to prepare a way for you so you have access into our lives. May Jesus, who is the way, show us the way. Amen.