by Fr. Tommy Lane
That was quite a promise from God to King David at the end of our first reading, “Your house and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be forever secure.” (2 Sam 7:16) It gave a great sense of security. If God had promised that the monarchy would last forever, then that must mean the city would also last and the temple. That was around 1000 BC. The royal kingdom did continue until 587 BC and then it came crashing down. The year before that, in 588 BC, the Babylonians laid siege to the city, and for 18 months the city was under siege and there was a great famine in the city. Then in 587 BC the king tried to escape the city and he was captured and taken in exile to Babylon. Yet around 1000 BC God had made the promise to king David that we heard at the end of our first reading, “Your house and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be forever secure.” (2 Sam 7:16) How could God’s promise be understood now? It was difficult to make sense out of it. About fifty years later the exiles were allowed return to Jerusalem and they slowly began the work of rebuilding. But the monarchy in David’s line was never restored. There was never again a monarchy descended from David in Israel. So, what about God’s promise to king David, “Your house and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be forever secure.” (2 Sam 7:16)
We see the answer in the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary in the Gospel. The angel Gabriel said this of Jesus, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end.” (Luke 1:32-33) Jesus is the one whose reign on the throne of David will have no end. So, God’s promise to king David was fulfilled in Jesus about a thousand years later in a way completely unforeseen. But three decades later Jesus was arrested, tried before the Sanhedrin, scourged, and executed using the form of capital punishment the Roman empire used on its non-citizens, crucifixion. The scourging was so brutal that Jesus died after only a few hours on the cross even though a crucifixion would normally last for days. The angel Gabriel had said to Mary, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end.” (Luke 1:32-33) At Jesus’ crucifixion, once again God’s promise looks like it had come to an end. That is certainly what it must have looked like to the apostles. They all abandoned Jesus except for the apostle John and the women by Jesus’ cross.
But on the following Sunday morning God’s promise was fulfilled in a way completely unexpected when Jesus rose from the tomb. Jesus ascended to heaven and the New Testament tells us Jesus took a seat at the right hand of the Father in heaven. In the Creed every Sunday we say,
He ascended into heaven
and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
That is how the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary are fulfilled, and that is how God’s promise to King David is fulfilled. The throne of David did not come to an end. Now Jesus is sitting on the throne of David in heaven for ever. God kept his promise.
In this year when Covid has destroyed so much in so many people’s lives (2020), the way God’s promises in our readings today worked themselves out, helps us to remember that God has not abandoned us and remains faithful to us. Fr. Benedict Groeschel helps us make sense out of suffering in his very helpful book, Arise from Darkness:
In your life, when things begin to fall apart, apparently by happenstance, perhaps because of the ill will of others, or on the occasion of terminal illness or death or economic insecurity or the loss of a position—when things start to fall apart, for heaven’s sake, take yourself to prayer. Not prayer that is going to help you tell God what to do. That’s not very helpful prayer. God already knows what to do. But prayer that will reassure you that you are in the hands of God. (p135)
It is very important to believe that even in the most dreadful circumstances God is working toward our salvation. By prayer, by good works, by a life of dedication, by carrying the cross, one may give God the chance to bring good out of evil. It is only by a misuse of the mysterious power of the human will that we can stop God from bringing good out of evil. Isn’t that what the Passion and death of Jesus Christ tell us? (p136-137)
Most of the time there is no way to understand or explain the troubles or sorrows of this life. Life is mysterious. But Jesus Christ, by coming into the world, has brought the answer to the mystery of life. It is a practical answer, not a speculative one. Why is life like this? I don’t know. When I finally get beyond my Purgatory and I have in sight that reality which Christ called his Father’s house, then I will know. The practical answer for now is that I believe and know that my Redeemer lives. (p144)
God’s promise to king David looked like it had come to an end in 587 BC. The promise of the angel Gabriel to Mary about Jesus was difficult to understand on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. But God’s promise was fulfilled in Jesus when, as we pray every Sunday,
He ascended into heaven
and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
Our forthcoming celebration of Jesus’ birth reminds us that God became one of us and has been through our trials and sorrows and reminds us that God is faithful to us no matter what happens.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2020
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More Homilies for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Year B
Jesus came because Mary surrendered to God and said “Yes”
Saying “Yes” to Jesus’ invitation to allow him into our lives
Related Homilies: Mary full of grace 2023
God made a gathering of all graces called Mary