21/12/2008 - 4th. Sunday of Advent
Season - Year B
Ist. Reading 2Sam 7,1-5.8-12.14.16 Psalm 88 2nd. Reading Rom 16,25-27 Gospel
Lk 1,26-38
"And the life of the world to come". During our Eucharistic celebration,
several times we express our faith in the life to come and the desire that this
be close at hand: "as we wait your coming", We always repeat these
words, very important words, that make our life. The Lord himself, when he promised
to Peter and to the other apostles the hundred fold, added: "and in the
future life eternal" (Mk.10, 31). Let me say it again, as already said
in the previous expression of the Creed, we are ignorant, because we don't know
the coming life because we are not able to comprehend the wholeness of God's
love and hence the mystery of his will to save us all. It's only through our
faith that we can say: "I don't understand, I don't know the future, I
don't see life eternal, but I know that you love me, I know that you won't deceive
us, and that you won't promise anything that not fulfill; I trust myself to
you, I believe that you know that I cannot understand because its bigger than
me"! The coming world will be beautiful, marvelous. The apostle John uses
many images in the Book of Revelation to tell us something of the beauty of
this world to come, when he describes the celestial Jerusalem that is coming
down from heaven. For us, it should be enough the promise that Jesus made to
his disciples at the last supper: "I go and prepare for you a place"
(Jn 14,2). "The place" that Jesus himself prepares for us cannot be
something stupid, but will be for sure the best one can desire! With this word
and with our eyes fixed on what to come we sign our profession of faith adding
"Amen"!
The Amen, that we repeat so often every time we conclude all our prayers, is
an exclamation in Hebrew language. It expresses the security and certitude that
comes from God's Faithfulness. Professing what we believe with a loud voice
our life becomes more stable, our spiritual edifice strong and secure like the
house built on the rock. This word is almost an oath to confirm what each and
everyone say. Sure and with joy let us say "Amen" to all the love
given to us by God!
King David would want to build a stable temple to replace the provisional tent
for the ark of the presence of God! According to the prophet Nathan, David was
right in his wish: your desire is a good desire. It needs to be fulfilled. The
prophet trusted in himself and didn't seek the advice of God! And God needed
to intervene to correct the desires of King David and the word of the prophet
Nathan. The temple will be built but at a second time and for the command of
God himself. First and foremost God, who chose David while he was herding the
sheep, is to the one to lay foundations for a presence among the people, and
not so much between four walls as much as they can be beautiful. The dynasty
of David will be the place in which the king who represents God shall live!
The words of the prophet to David are the same words that the angel Gabriel
says to Mary. This girl from Nazareth is disturbed because of the word given
to her, knowing that the prophets announced that same word to all the people.
What does it mean that the word proclaimed to all is now said to her alone?
The angel was not expecting that Mary gives an immediate answer, and he continues
to explain with other words from the prophets. "You shall conceive a child",
as Isaiah prophesied to Ahaz when he told him of the virgin to give birth, who
was to be a sign of God's salvation. This child shall have "the throne
of David", and "shall reign for ever"!
Now we know what follows in the story and we know also that it all happened.
Great things have been happening in all the world since the time this child
is born, and great changes between peoples thanks to his presence. It's because
of this that we celebrate his birth, his coming into the world, not only through
a great feast, but above all by an on going conversion. Let us look at one who
comes in poverty and in humility like Mary, and let's involve ourselves in this
humility and poverty which have become beautiful and can make the world look
beautiful, beautiful faces, good heats of those, who even though only symbolically,
come forward to kiss the baby Jesus. Let us commit ourselves to return back
from the selfishness of love, repeating the words that Mary said to the angel:
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word"!
This attitude of obedience in faith is the most beautiful conversion that makes
God's heart rejoice, is that which prepares one to welcome the Son and imitates
him to live his same mission in the world. We desire that he is known and loved,
welcomed and obeyed by all, for their own good. People are immersed in the fruits
of selfishness, in the sufferings they create for themselves: The presence of
Jesus makes it possible that relationships in true love between persons are
renewed. We really desire that all come to know him so that life can be changed,
and passions overcome by the power of his Spirit, inaugurate a new world in
which justice and peace that reflect the Kingdom of God!