Fourth Sunday of Advent Year B
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
The liturgy of this fourth Sunday of Advent presents us with one of the most important messianic prophecies and its fulfilment. David wanted to build a house for the Lord, but the Lord said he would rather build David a house; a dynasty, a throne that would endure forever. Nathan’s prophecy about the dynasty foresees a king from the line of David whose kingship will have no end. This prophecy is important because it establishes a special relationship between God and the king, a relation of Father and Son – “I will be a father to him and he shall be son to me.” The king’s sonship with God became the expression of the covenant between God and David because God committed himself to act toward the king as a good father to his son. It points to Jesus who is the eternal son of God who brings the words of this covenant to its perfect fulfilment. He is the son of David, and his kingship will have no end.
In the Incarnation, the son of God became the son of man so that man by entering communion with him, the eternal word of the Father, can receive divine sonship and become a son of God (CCC 460). The annunciation to Mary and the Incarnation of the Word constitute the deepest mystery of the relationship between God and man and the most important event in the history of mankind: for us men and for our salvation, God becomes man and will remain so forever. Such is the extent of his loving-kindness. He fulfils his promises despite man’s infidelity. Thanks to the covenant of enduring love, even when his people sinned and jeopardized the covenant and God allowed them to be taken into exile, he always brought them back. And so, despite sin, God remains our Father and will forever maintain his loving-kindness towards man (Psalm 89: 29). That is the theme of the responsorial Psalm. It is a praise of God who is merciful and faithful to his promises.
Because in Christ, God has united Himself with each human person, the words, “I will be father to him, and he shall be son to me,” are addressed to each one of us. And so, God is committed to acting towards us as a good father to his children. As a good father, although he may punish us for our offences, he will never abandon us because his loving kindness endures forever. At Christmas, these words come alive in a new way calling us to rejoice and thank God for his faithfulness and love in sending us a savior, Christ our Lord, and we are challenged to respond to such great love and faithfulness. Mary becomes a model for us. She believed and gave her unconditional acceptance of the will of God, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your Word.” She is the most faithful one, completely open and available to the will of the Father. She challenges us to seek always, the will of God and accept it with total resignation.
Happy Sunday,
Fr Chidi Onwuka m.ss.cc.