2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12, 14, 16
Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “Faith is
the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has
said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he
is truth itself.” (1814).
King David in Prayer by Pieter de Grebber |
In the Second Book of Samuel, we hear about that familiar
figure King David. Having finally found rest from his enemies, he resolved to
build a house for the Ark of the Covenant, the dwelling place of the Lord. The
Lord then reminds him “It was I who took
you from the pasture…I have been with you…I have destroyed all your enemies before
you….” Reminding David of these things done in the past, the Lord then
speaks of what He will do in the future, saying, “I will raise up your heir after you… 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.”
A Son of David ruled on the throne as king for the next four
hundred years until the Babylonian Exile in 597 B.C., when the Israelites
people were scattered among the nations and their kingdom fallen. When this
happened, you can imagine the people’s thoughts. ‘The Lord said the Davidic
King would rule forever. Has the Lord forgotten His promise? Has He gone back
on His word? Has He abandoned us?’ It would seem that all was lost, that there
was no reason to hope. And yet there were some who still believed that the Lord
would keep His word and restore the Kingdom of David. They had faith.
For over six hundred years, they longed for that king until
the day they heard the message that Gabriel spoke to Mary: “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.”
A Son of David shall be king again! And furthermore, this
king fulfills the prophecy perfectly – the child is no mere child but rather is
truly the Son of God the Father and will indeed reign forever before Him in
Heaven. How blessed indeed were those who kept faith and had eyes to see this
great prophecy fulfilled.
The Infant of Prague |
Come, O King of All the Nations.
Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
It is "in knowing that we are known". Faith is a gift. Maturing in Faith is a Choice to respond to the gift. Know that God has Faith in You by looking at the price He was willing to pay to show you the Fullness of that Faith in You. Be Blessed in God's Love!
ReplyDeleteKenny Garon
Much better than mine. Much better than mine...
ReplyDelete