A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 4, n. 4)
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B – December 18, 2005
“The Kingdom Shall Endure”
BIBLE READINGS
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 // Rom 16:25-27 // Lk 1:26-38
N.B. This new series of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY presents a biblico-liturgical study of the Old Testament reading of each Sunday Mass to serve as background for a better understanding of the Gospel proclaimed in the liturgy. For a biblico-liturgical study of the Gospel for each Sunday, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US.
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
In this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the liturgical assembly listens devoutly to the Gospel proclamation of the annunciation of the birth of our Lord Jesus (Lk 1:26-38). The first recipient of this Good News is Mary, the virgin maiden of Nazareth, chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. The annunciation of the Lord brought about the dawn of salvation and this joyful message brings hope and consolation to people in advent expectation through the ages. The Church writer, Venerable Bede remarks: “Today’s reading of the Gospel calls to mind the beginning of our redemption, for the passage tells us how God sent an angel from heaven to a virgin. He was to proclaim the new birth, the incarnation of God’s Son, who would take away our age-old guilt; through him it would be possible for us to be made new and numbered among the children of God. And so, if we are to deserve the gifts of the promised salvation, we must listen attentively to the account of its beginning.”
The message of the angel to Mary about the Savior that would be born from her and whose kingdom would endure forever takes on deeper meaning when seen in the context of the Old Testament reading (2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16). Susan Myers explains: “Today’s passage recounts David’s desire to build a temple for the ark and the subsequent message from God. God’s message is a promise of favor for David and his descendants, a promise that gives hope to Israel through the ages and to which Christians have also laid claim. The point of today’s reading centers on a play of words. David’s concern is to build a house for God, but God speaks of a different kind of house, promising to establish David’s lineage forever. Through the court prophet, Nathan, God pledges faithfulness to David and favor to his descendants … Familial language beautifully expresses the closeness of the relationship that will exist between God and David’s son; and God’s commitment to David’s line will never end. This promise to David provided assurance to subsequent rulers of Israel, and especially to the rulers of Judah after the kingdom was divided, offering hope even during the exile. After the dissolution of the Davidic monarchy, the promise of God to David was understood by some to refer to a Messiah from the line of David, a savior who would restore Israel to its glory. This perspective was adopted by Christians, but with an other worldly interpretation of the reign of that Messiah … Writing long after Jesus’ humiliating death and triumphant resurrection, the evangelist Luke knows that the reign of this child will not be an earthly one. But in this child the hopes of Israel find true and lasting fulfillment; his reign will be eternal.”
Venerable Bede comments on the spiritual but enduring character of the Kingdom of Mary’s Son: “The Lord God gave to our Redeemer the throne of his father David, when he decreed that he should take flesh from the lineage of David. As David had once ruled the people with temporal authority, so Christ would now lead them to the eternal kingdom by his spiritual grace … By faith and love he dwells in the hearts of his elect and guides them by his unceasing care toward their heavenly reward. In the life to come, when the period of exile on earth is ended, he will exercise his kingship by leading the faithful to their heavenly country. There, forever inspired by the vision of his presence, their one delight will be to praise and glorify him.”
In the person of the Word made flesh, conceived by Mary of Nazareth and born of David’s lineage is the radical fulfillment of the Davidic promise of an everlasting lineage and enduring Kingdom. As we approach the last days of preparation for the birth of Jesus, we are filled with marvel and awe at the immensity and magnanimity of God’s saving love and grandiose plan of redemption.
Harold Buetow exhorts us: “These days, we contemplate the unexpected spectacle of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. Every new birth is a wonder, but the newness of this one is an especial marvel. On this last Sunday before Christmas, it makes us straighten up, square our shoulders, and face our responsibility to let this newness enter and open ourselves to the possibilities of growth through God’s creative action. Let us create the wonder of Christmas anew by saying ‘yes’ to God at all times and bringing Jesus to the world.”
PERSONAL REFLECTION
By Novice Eunice of the PDDM Congregation
God made a promise to David and to his ancestors that David’s house and kingdom will endure forever and that his throne will be established forever (2 Sm 7:16). But God did not make it easy to fulfill the promise immediately. The people had been waiting and longing for the Messiah for a long time. Then, here comes Mary, a young virgin whom God called for an important mission in the fulfillment of his promise. This extraordinary event astonished Mary. You see, she was troubled when she heard the kind of greetings that the angel uttered. She, like her people, might have been waiting for the coming of the savior, but has she ever thought that she will be chosen to be the Mother of the Son of God? What made her respond positively to such a strange invitation? Isn’t she scared about the consequence of her action? She will be subjected not only to shame and humiliation, but worst of all, she will be stoned to death if the people of her time will find her pregnant without a husband. But Mary is a woman of faith. Closely engaged with God, she trusts in his goodness and the divine assistance promised to her by the angel. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most High will overshadow you …” (Lk 1:35).
God’s promise is not only for the people of ancient days. Today, this is also ours to claim. And so, the invitation to be attentive and be engaged with God is our invitation also. Like Mary, we are also called to participate in the fulfillment of God’s promise and we are to imitate what Mary had obediently done.
Christmas is now around the corner and the breeze tells us that the day is really coming near. Are we still thinking of other promises or could it be that we are the promise? At present, our world is confronted with many crises, broken hearts, broken relationships and destroyed lives, as well as, hopes for a fulfillment of God’s promise through us. As God gave his Son to us, we too are sent to continue the mission Jesus had begun. A story taken from the book, 150 More Stories, by Jack McArdle had a beautiful picture of such challenge to us. A holy hermit who was making his daily prayer saw passing by: a cripple, a mother begging for food for her pathetically malnourished child, and the victim of what must have been a very severe beating. Seeing them, the holy man turned to God and said, “Great God! How is it that such a loving Creator can see so much suffering and yet do nothing about it?” And deep within his heart, God replied, “I have done something about it. I made you.” Jesus can never be physically born again, but we can make his presence be visible to others. We can be God’s agent in the fulfillment of his promise.
As we look forward to the birthday of Jesus, let us not be fixated on the colorful display of dancing lights and giant lanterns, or the attractive items for gifts. May we imitate Mary and learn from her humble experience so that, while waiting, our preoccupation will not be just on lanterns, the decor, and the gifts, but on how we could respond to God’s invitation to participate in the fulfillment of his promise.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. Like Mary, the virgin of Nazareth, are we ready to receive the “Good News of salvation” and say “yes” to God’s saving plan?
B. Do we believe that in the person of the Word made flesh, conceived by Mary of Nazareth and born of David’s lineage, God’s promise of faithful love and eternal kingdom is radically fulfilled? Do we trust that we too are part and parcel of this promise?
C. On this Advent Sunday before Christmas, do we face the responsibility of making the spirit of Christmas alive in an increasingly secularized world? Do we embrace the duty of being heralds of God’s promise and eternal kingdom of justice and peace in a society warped with evil, violence and sadness?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29)
Refrain: Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
1. The favors of the Lord I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. (R.)
2. “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever I will confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.” (R.)
3. “He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.” (R.)
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.” (2 Sm 7:16)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: Pray that on this Advent Sunday before Christmas, the divine promise of David’s eternal kingdom may be rightly perceived and claimed by today’s believers in Christ. Endeavor to make the kingship of Christ, the Son of David, real and palpable by our works of justice and love and by our preferential option for the world’s poor.
B. ACTION PLAN: To prepare ourselves better for Christmas and in order to give homage to Jesus Christ, the redeeming Lord who came, who comes and will come gloriously at the end-time, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 4): A Weekly Pastoral Tool.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US