As we enter into the 4^th Sunday of Advent, we are reminded that all of time and history comes to fulfillment in the Messiah. All the shards of history are gathered together in him. To use the language of St. Paul, all of space and time is recapitulated in Christ, which means everything comes to come to a head in him. In all three readings we see this reflected.

In our first reading from the prophet Isaiah, the Lord is speaking to Ahaz who is a young king of Israel in the line of David who has come to a particularly challenging time in his reign. Ahaz, despite his Davidic pedigree, was a political operative who was making allegiances with surrounding countries, which he wasn’t supposed to do because God takes care of Israel. His kingdom is crumbling and in the midst of uncertainty, the Lord invites the king to dream big and to ask for a sign and “let it be as deep as the nether world or high as the sky!” (Is 7:10). In other words, ask whatever you want from me. But, here’s the fulcrum: Ahaz has lost faith in God, instead relying on earthly powers and alliances to get him out of his troubles. So, he demurs, but in a falsely pious way. He says, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” (v. 12) It sounds pious, but its coming from someone who just doesn’t trust God. Ahaz doesn’t want a sign because, if God should send one, he would have to comply which would screw up his plan as to how to fix and run the kingdom. Ahaz is a lot like people today who just refuse that God is in charge and consequently refuse to dream. They fast forward the tough questions: Does my life really have meaning? Is God really in charge of my life? Are their signs that God is really present in my life?

Now, in face of Ahaz’ reluctance, God does him one better: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel” (v. 14).

Now, to grasp the meaning of this sign, we have to go back in time before Ahaz or Isaiah to King David himself. In 2 Samuel 7:12-14, God promised David that he would put a descendant of his on David’s throne and his reign would last forever. It’s one of the most pivotal text in the whole Bible. Because up and down the centuries, even when things seemed hopeless, Israel never forgot this promise. And, it is precisely this promise that is reiterated to Ahaz. Don’t give up on the Lord. And, as we hear from Ezekiel, “(what) I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord” (Ez 37:14). He will put a descendant on David’s throne and his reign will last forever. In your bleakest times don’t give up. In your darkest moments don’t think your story has no purpose. God never gives up on us.

O.K., now flash forward about 700 years from Isaiah and Ahaz. Remember, history rhymes and consider the extraordinary conversation that we hear in today’s Gospel. Listen: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her” (Mt 3:20).

Notice that the angel calls Joseph “the son of David.” So, anybody with a Hebrew imagination, who believes that history rhymes, their ears perk up. In 2 Samuel 7 God promised that a descendant of David will be placed on his throne and his reign will be forever.   Now, Matthew is reminding us what the Lord had said to Ahaz seven centuries before.

Mary will bear a son who will save his people from their sin. And, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us” ((vs. 22-23).

Immanuel is the long-awaited Messiah, the anointed one.   Who was the original anointed one but David to whom God promised that his dynasty would be eternal. The baby to come will be the Messiah who will draw all people in history and in time to himself. This child will be the magnetic point to whom all things have been directed since the beginning of time.

Do you see why it’s so inadequate just to refer to Jesus as a teacher or a moral exemplar? He is that, of course but, his significance is so much greater than that. He is of cosmic significance. He is the one in which all things are recapitulated.

Having connected the first reading with that of the Gospel, let’s look at our magnificent second reading which is an introduction to the little fledging church in Rome. When it was received, it was probably read in someone’s home. What does he say? His opening words are of utmost importance.

“Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus”—Paul is identifying himself as a slave to the true king (Rom 1:1a). Jesus, whom he refers to his Davidic title, Christos (Messiah). He is identifying himself with the Messiah, the true anointed one, the one promised to David, the one promised to Ahaz, the one to whom all of history comes together. And, then he says this:

“(I am) called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” (v.1b). It’s Paul’s way of saying that he has been sent by this true Davidic king on a mission. He is an emissary of the king. What’s his job? “…to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles” (v. 56). There it is—that’s the whole program. In other words, Paul’s mission from the king of whom he is the slave is to bring the whole world under the kingship of the Messiah.

Now, we began by saying that history has a purpose and history rhymes. Go from David to Ahaz to Joseph to Paul. And, the final rhyme: us! Because we are all apostles in this same sense. All of Christians should identify ourselves in the same way as Paul did: of being slaves of the true king. And, we have the mission as Paul had. What Ahaz couldn’t dream of asking for has come true. And, we’ve got the privilege of telling the whole world about it! Amen.

Deacon Jim McFadden