Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king,
“Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?’
“It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Within the historical books of the Old Testament (1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Maccabees), this passage is considered to have the most theological significance. Nathan’s Oracle – the establishment of the dynasty of King David marks the beginning of the understanding of royal messianism, our first hint of the Messiah to come.In this passage, Nathan is told to tell David that, while he would not build the Temple, his son (Solomon) would and that his (David’s) line would continue; “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises 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. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“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. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Though Psalm 89 is a lament, this first section is prophetic and reiterates the Davidic Dynasty. The intended support for the Samuel reading above is clear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: Romans 16:25-27
Brothers and sisters:
To him who can strengthen you,
according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Rom 16:25-27
This selection from the last chapter of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans is part of what is known as “Letter of Recommendations to Phoebe”. It was probably sent to the Church in Ephesus as opposed to Rome. The selection is a doxology or short hymn to the Lord that concludes the letter (both the selection and the whole letter to the Romans) in praise of Christ Jesus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 1:26-38
Here we have St. Luke’s story of the Annunciation. The Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her she will bear a son and names him Jesus (the eternal implication of this statement is made clear in the greeting which presupposes knowledge of Mary’s entire existence). Mary confirms the title “Virgin” given by the author as she questions Gabriel saying; “How can this be, since I have not relations with a man?” Even though she does not understand Mary accepts she role and is told that the Holy Spirit will be the agent of the life within her and utters those amazing words: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
This story parallels the one we heard Friday when the angel visited Zachariah and told him of the conception of John the Baptist. That event is referenced in this one as the Gabriel provides as proof to Mary, informing her of the pregnancy of Elizabeth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The candles of hope, love, and joy continue to shine and are finally joined by the candle of peace. With its lighting the flame shines brightly inviting the Price of Peace to rule our hearts and minds.
Today we consider a young Virgin Mary. She is the daughter of Anne and Joachim, a pious and humble girl who is betrothed to a local carpenter, Joseph. She is in her day, not a princess or a wealthy daughter of the secular nobility. She is just a young girl in a small town. Yes she must seem to her friends and family as unusually faith filled and devoted to God. But beyond this singular devotion to God and its associated humility, there is nothing that raises her to national or social prominence; nothing that would cause a causal observer of the town to stop and take notice as she passed.
Up to the point in time described in St. Luke’s Gospel she has lead a reasonably normal life. Even she must have thought that her life would proceed normally. The appearance of Gabriel changed everything. While at the moment it happened Mother Mary must have been surprised. Even the greeting; “Hail, full of grace!” must have taken her aback. “The Lord is with you.” The heavenly messenger brought the essence of God into her presence with a profound purpose. Yet the full magnitude of what was proposed must have come to her only after the angle had left her. She would certainly have known the prophecy. She would have, from her earliest upbringing have been told of the history of her people; how Moses led the people out of bondage, how the came to the land God had promised. She would have known about the great King David (she too was of his line) and how the prophets, including Nathan, had promised a great savior of the people would come from him.
Sweet Mary would have recalled all of this either during or immediately following that miraculous visit. How crushing must have been that weight of history and prophecy. Generation upon generation had waited and hoped for the promise to be fulfilled. Even in her day the Zealots were looking for a great leader to rise up and, through force of arms, throw off the Roman yoke as Kind David had done so victoriously in battle, to unseat their puppet King Herod and lead the people to peace and freedom once more. She must have realized that God’s plan would disappoint these misguided patriots, even before Simeon told her of the sorrow she would feel, she must have suspected much of her Son’s destiny.
It is this back-drop which makes her response so much more compelling for us. In the face of all of this knowledge and not even considering the social and religious consequences of coming to her betrothed with child and the possible death sentence that could bring to her, she answered, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
It is her unquestioning faith we see flowing out of these words. She comes as God’s handmaid, his servant, concerned only with doing his will, unconcerned with the consequences for herself. Truly, at that moment, as the Holy Spirit placed within her womb the Christ Child to come, she experienced the peace of Him who brings peace to us.
Now as we look back at this event (ironically for the second time in as many days) we look forward to our own acceptance of God’s call and the peace our hope, love, and joy in the Lord can bring.
Pax
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king,
“Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?’
“It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Within the historical books of the Old Testament (1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Maccabees), this passage is considered to have the most theological significance. Nathan’s Oracle – the establishment of the dynasty of King David marks the beginning of the understanding of royal messianism, our first hint of the Messiah to come.In this passage, Nathan is told to tell David that, while he would not build the Temple, his son (Solomon) would and that his (David’s) line would continue; “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises 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. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“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. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Though Psalm 89 is a lament, this first section is prophetic and reiterates the Davidic Dynasty. The intended support for the Samuel reading above is clear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: Romans 16:25-27
Brothers and sisters:
To him who can strengthen you,
according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Rom 16:25-27
This selection from the last chapter of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans is part of what is known as “Letter of Recommendations to Phoebe”. It was probably sent to the Church in Ephesus as opposed to Rome. The selection is a doxology or short hymn to the Lord that concludes the letter (both the selection and the whole letter to the Romans) in praise of Christ Jesus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 1:26-38
Here we have St. Luke’s story of the Annunciation. The Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her she will bear a son and names him Jesus (the eternal implication of this statement is made clear in the greeting which presupposes knowledge of Mary’s entire existence). Mary confirms the title “Virgin” given by the author as she questions Gabriel saying; “How can this be, since I have not relations with a man?” Even though she does not understand Mary accepts she role and is told that the Holy Spirit will be the agent of the life within her and utters those amazing words: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
This story parallels the one we heard Friday when the angel visited Zachariah and told him of the conception of John the Baptist. That event is referenced in this one as the Gabriel provides as proof to Mary, informing her of the pregnancy of Elizabeth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The candles of hope, love, and joy continue to shine and are finally joined by the candle of peace. With its lighting the flame shines brightly inviting the Price of Peace to rule our hearts and minds.
Today we consider a young Virgin Mary. She is the daughter of Anne and Joachim, a pious and humble girl who is betrothed to a local carpenter, Joseph. She is in her day, not a princess or a wealthy daughter of the secular nobility. She is just a young girl in a small town. Yes she must seem to her friends and family as unusually faith filled and devoted to God. But beyond this singular devotion to God and its associated humility, there is nothing that raises her to national or social prominence; nothing that would cause a causal observer of the town to stop and take notice as she passed.
Up to the point in time described in St. Luke’s Gospel she has lead a reasonably normal life. Even she must have thought that her life would proceed normally. The appearance of Gabriel changed everything. While at the moment it happened Mother Mary must have been surprised. Even the greeting; “Hail, full of grace!” must have taken her aback. “The Lord is with you.” The heavenly messenger brought the essence of God into her presence with a profound purpose. Yet the full magnitude of what was proposed must have come to her only after the angle had left her. She would certainly have known the prophecy. She would have, from her earliest upbringing have been told of the history of her people; how Moses led the people out of bondage, how the came to the land God had promised. She would have known about the great King David (she too was of his line) and how the prophets, including Nathan, had promised a great savior of the people would come from him.
Sweet Mary would have recalled all of this either during or immediately following that miraculous visit. How crushing must have been that weight of history and prophecy. Generation upon generation had waited and hoped for the promise to be fulfilled. Even in her day the Zealots were looking for a great leader to rise up and, through force of arms, throw off the Roman yoke as Kind David had done so victoriously in battle, to unseat their puppet King Herod and lead the people to peace and freedom once more. She must have realized that God’s plan would disappoint these misguided patriots, even before Simeon told her of the sorrow she would feel, she must have suspected much of her Son’s destiny.
It is this back-drop which makes her response so much more compelling for us. In the face of all of this knowledge and not even considering the social and religious consequences of coming to her betrothed with child and the possible death sentence that could bring to her, she answered, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
It is her unquestioning faith we see flowing out of these words. She comes as God’s handmaid, his servant, concerned only with doing his will, unconcerned with the consequences for herself. Truly, at that moment, as the Holy Spirit placed within her womb the Christ Child to come, she experienced the peace of Him who brings peace to us.
Now as we look back at this event (ironically for the second time in as many days) we look forward to our own acceptance of God’s call and the peace our hope, love, and joy in the Lord can bring.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Annunciation” by Paolo Domenico Finoglia, 1630s
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
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