First Reading - 2 Samuel 7:1-16
Gospel - Luke 1:67-79
In the first reading, we hear about the desire of the king David to have the house of God (temple) built. He seeks the advise of the prophet Nathan. The prophet Nathan at first consents to the wish of the king but God tells him in a dream to convey to David that he shouldn't build it but his successor would do so. However, the passage points to the fact that it's God who builds and bring sovereignty and glory to the house of human beings. The passage highlights that God sends the prophet Nathan to David to communicate the prophecy to him that God will bring glory and sovereignty to the house of him and his progenies. The message becomes crystal in the passage that it's not human beings who can build the house for God but God builds for us just as He did for David. He chose him, though he was a shepherd boy, to become the king of Israel. The passage also stresses that God is in command.
Today’s Gospel gives the prophetic hymn which Zechariah, filled with Holy Spirit, sang on the eighth day after his son John’s birth when all had assembled for his Circumcision and Naming ceremony. Although the Jews generally believed that Elijah the prophet would return to earth to prepare the way for the Messiah, Zechariah prophetically sang here that it was his son, John, who was going to prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus.
The song of Zechariah or Benedictus has two parts; the first part speaks about the fulfillment of the promise of God which was made to Abraham and other patriarchs. This section of the hymn entails sure belief of the fulfillment of the promise of salvation in the Messiah who would eventually redeem people from evil and sin; the second part of the hymn speaks about the role of John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Messiah.
Dear friends, God ever fulfills His promises. The first reading and the gospel are standing tall as witnesses of the fulfillment of God's promise. The first reading strongly endorses that God fulfills His promise as in the case of king David and so the gospel, as in the Messiah and John the Baptist. God promises David of his enduring kingdom in the first reading, and the gospel passage rejoices over the enduring kingdom of David fulfilled in the Messiah. The kingdom of David was seen as the kingdom of peace, prosperity, joy etc. and Jesus the Messiah perpetuates the kingdom of David by re-establishing it by overcoming sin and death that bring sorrow and disharmony. God continues to keep His promise made to us. He has promised us to be with us till the end of the world and He continues to accompany us everyday. We need to perceive that with the eyes of faith.
Jesus is 'Immanuel,' means 'God-with-us'. He is indeed with us in our troubles, sorrows, and joys. He promises his friendship with us by his very name, 'Immanuel' and he fulfills it always.
May God enlighten us to see the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives.
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