4^th Sunday of Advent (A); December 18, 2022

Is 7:10-14.  Ps 24.  Rom 1:1-7.  Mt 1:18-24

Deacon Jim McFadden

            As we enter into the 4^th Sunday of Advent, let us remember that salvation history has a trajectory which comes to fulfillment in the Messiah.  All the fragments of history are gathered together in him.  To use the language of St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians everything in space and time is recapitulated in Christ, which means everything comes to a head in him.  In all three readings we see this reflected.

            In our first reading from the prophet Isaiah, a.k.a. ‘the prophet of Advent,’ the Lord is speaking to Ahaz who is a young king of Israel in the line of David who has come to a very problematic time in his reign.  Ahaz, despite his Davidic pedigree, was a callow political operative who was making allegiances with surrounding pagan 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, to stretch his imagination, 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, think BIG Ahaz and ask whatever you want from me.  But, here’s the deal:  Ahaz has lost faith in God and has shifted his allegiances to earthly powers to get him out of his troubles.  So, he begs off, but in a falsely pious way.  He says, “I will not ask!  I will not tempt the Lord!” (v. 12).  It sounds pious on the surface, but is coming from someone who just doesn’t trust in the Lord.  Ahaz doesn’t want a sign because, if God should send him one, he would have to comply, which would screw up his plan to run his kingdom according to his egoic agenda.  Ahaz is a lot like people who just refuse to acknowledge that God is really in charge and consequently they refuse to dream.  So, they fast forward the tough questions: does my life have real meaning.  Am I just accumulating the goods of the world in a life-long shopping spree?  Is God the center of my life?  Are there signs that God is really present here and now?

            Now, in the face of Ahaz’ reluctance, God doubles down: “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 on his throne and his reign would last forever.  FOREVER!  This has got to be the most pivotal text in the Old Testament.  Because throughout the centuries, no matter how tough and 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 no matter what.  Why?  As we hear from the  prophet 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.  Brothers and sisters, life can be very hard.  In your bleakest times don’t give up.  In your darkest moments don’t think that your sacred story has no purpose.  God never gives up on us.

            Okay, now let us flash forward about 700 years from Ahaz and Isaiah.  Remember, history has a rhythm and consider the extraordinary conversation we hear in today’s Gospel from Matthew: “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.”  Since history rhymes anybody with a biblical imagination would immediately be on alert.  In 2 Samuel 7 God promised that a descendant of David will be placed on his throne and his reign will last forever.  Now, Matthew is reminding us what the Lord said to Ahaz 700 years ago is coming to fruition in the fulness of time. 

            Mary will bear a son who will save his people from their sin.  And, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Immanuel,” 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 his dynasty would be eternal.  The baby to come will be the Messiah who will all draw all people in history and time to himself.  This child will be the magnetic point to whom all things have been directed since the beginning of time.

            Having connecting the first reading with that of the Gospel, let’s look at our magnificent second reading which is the introduction to the little fledging church in Rome.  When it was first received, it was probably read in someone’s home since the early Church was underground because of Roman persecution.  What does it 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).  Jesus is 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 the Lord” (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. 5). There it is—that’s the whole program.  In other words, Paul’s mission comes from the king of whom he is the slave to bring the whole world under the kingship of the Messiah. 

            Now, we began by saying that history has a purpose and history rhymes.  God from David to Ahaz to Joseph to Paul.  And, the final rhyme: us!  Because we are all apostles in this same sense.  All Christians should identify ourselves in the same way as Paul did: of being slaves to the true king.  And, we have same 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 this Good News!  Amen.