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December 24, 2021The Goodness of the Lord
In today’s readings, the Lord is asking us “Should you build me a house to dwell in?” Often, when we are preparing something, whether it’s a dinner, a party, a family reunion, we worry about the smallest details and forget about the bigger picture. That is exactly what happened with King David. All this time the Lord accompanied him in battles and then finally when “rest” comes, he focuses on where God is sleeping! King David states “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” At first, it sounds like a pious statement, but God reminds us rather that He dwells within us, he does not need a physical place to be with us. He reminds David through Nathan the prophet, “It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.” What a humble reminder! All this time, the Lord has been with King David, and he reminds us through Nathan the prophet, that “I will fix a place for my people Israel... I will give you rest from all your enemies.” In the Gospel, we hear about the priest Zechariah, who is “filled with the Holy Spirit.” He proclaims that God, “through his prophets has promised of old that he would save us from our enemies.” O Radiant Dawn, this is the Good News that comes to us—He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, our eternal rest!
During this season of Advent, we have reflected on the coming of the Messiah and it culminates in today’s readings with the three-fold office of Jesus Christ: He is King, Prophet, and Priest! We have been spiritually preparing to receive the first coming of Christ! As we prepare for his birth, we are moved with wonder and awe that the Son of God will become man, to be humbled in flesh. When the Lord asks each one of us, “Should you build me a house to dwell in?”, let us remember that God says, “It was I who took you” and “I have been with you wherever you went.” Let us place our hope on the big picture, the splendor of eternal light, Jesus Christ, as we prepare to receive the King of kings in our humble abode, our hearts.
