Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday, 3rd Week of Advent, Year B, December 17th, 2020
Texts: Gen. 49:2.8-10; Ps. 72:1-4.7-8.17; Matt. 1:1-17
Today, we are reminded that the coming of our Lord has a remote past in the prophecy of Jacob. It shows that it is part of God's eternal plan. In his prophecy, Jacob says, "The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples". Jesus Christ is the one to whom the Sceptre belongs and whose it is the obedience of peoples. The prophecy of Jacob reveals that the Messiah we are awaiting is a king. Today's responsorial psalm tells us the kind of king we are expecting: "In his days justice shall flourish, and great peace till the moon is no more." As a king he will give justice to the poor, he will defend them and save the children of the needy.
The prophecy also reveals that it is the mission of the Messiah to bring all peoples/nations to obedience in God. The psalm also affirms the same thus: "May his name endure forever, his name continue like the sun. Every tribe shall be blest in him, all nations shall call him blessed." This also brings to mind God's promise to Abraham: "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Hence, he is also the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham. He will bring people to obedience in God through love, the love that leads him to the cross. It is said, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). This is contrary to what happens in our time, where we bring people to obedience through force. The Messiah we await is coming to teach us how to lead and win obedience by love.
He shall also fulfil the prophecy about Judah: "Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you." It is part of God's eternal plan to grant us victory over evil through Jesus Christ. It is also clear in the prophecy that we are to be sons by our faith in him. Those who will pay him the honour of praise and worship will be the sons of his Father. We are expecting a Saviour who deserves our praise and worship. The title, lion's whelp, given to Judah in the prophecy is ascribed to Jesus Christ in the the Book of Revelation, where he is called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" (5:5).
Today's gospel reading only affirms the message in the first reading: Jesus Christ has a royal lineage and he is the fulfilment of the ancient prophecy. The whole gospel reading is summarized at the beginning thus: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." In Advent we await the Saviour, who is the King, and our hope.
Lord Jesus Christ, may we truly show in our daily lives that you are our king and Lord by keeping your word. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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