Reflection/Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent. Year B 24th December 2023

Reflection/Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent. Year B 24th December 2023

2 Samuel 7:1-5,8b-12,14a-16. Psalm 89:2-3,4-5,27,29. Romans 16:26-27. Luke 1:26-38.

Theme: Jesus, the Promised Messiah.

In the first reading, we have the prophecy of Nathan that the descendants of David will inherit an eternal kingdom. This promise came about as a result of David's good intention to build a house of worship for God. He said to prophet Nathan: "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent" (2 Sam.7:2). At first, Nathan gave no objection.

Later, the word of God came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell my servant David, ... the Lord will make you a house. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever" (2 Sam.1:11,16). Here is not meant by the temple built by Solomon at Jerusalem. That temple did not last forever. What is meant is a spiritual temple, a spiritual kingdom. Only that can last forever.

We have the fulfilment of Nathan's prophecy in today's Gospel when Archangel Gabriel said to Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:30-33).

What is this kingdom, which will last forever? It is the kingdom our Lord Jesus Christ came to establish in the heart of humanity. It is the spiritual dwelling place of God in the hearts of men and women. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

We can become temples of God if we have Jesus in our hearts. This temple of ours with Christ Jesus in us will last forever.

For us to become the temples of God, St. Paul tells us in the second reading what we need to do. He invites us to be ready and obedient as Jesus was so that God could manifest his love through our weakness.

As we are a few hours away from the celebration of Christmas, the first reading presents God's covenant with David in which He promised to make his dynasty everlasting. This prophecy is considered one of the backbones of the Old Testament basis for the expectation of the Messiah. The fulfilment of this prophecy will take place with the birth of Christ Jesus as announced by Archangel Gabriel in today's Gospel.

The dynasty of David was to ensure God's continued protection of his people through the agency of an efficient and powerful king. We are all God's people in the New Covenant by the virtue of our baptism made with us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the newborn King in the lineage of David that has come to fulfil this prophecy.

Adam and Eve broke their relationship with God through the sin of disobedience, and instantly, the promise of a Saviour was made. God does not go back on his word nor revoke his promises. What is broken will be mended; what is bruised will be healed; what is divided will now be united; what is scattered will now be brought together again. All these were as our Lord accepting to do his Father's will and Mary's "Yes" to Archangel Gabriel's message, when she said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

By becoming man and assuming our human condition, God in Jesus will make us divine to share in his divinity. How blessed are we to have God condescend to dwell among us.

May God grant us the grace to do his will always and make us his temple where Jesus will dwell forever through Christ our Lord. Amen.