The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder and celebrate the surrender of Mary and Joseph to the plan of God that Jesus should share our humanity and bring us truth, love and compassion.
The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah celebrates the Righteous Branch of David.
* [23:1–8] With the false rulers (shepherds) who have governed his people the Lord contrasts himself, the true shepherd, who will in the times of restoration appoint worthy rulers (vv. 1–4). He will provide a new king from David’s line who will rule justly, fulfilling royal ideals (vv. 5, 6). “The Lord our justice” is an ironic wordplay on the name of the weak King Zedekiah (“The Lord is justice”). Unlike Zedekiah, the future king will be true to the name he bears. Verses 7–8 may have been added during the exile. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 72 is a prayer for Guidance and Support for the King.
* [Psalm 72] A royal Psalm in which the Israelite king, as the representative of God, is the instrument of divine justice (Ps 72:1–4, 12–14) and blessing (Ps 72:5–7, 15–17) for the whole world. The king is human, giving only what he has received from God. Hence intercession must be made for him. The extravagant language is typical of oriental royal courts. (Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew proclaims the Birth of Jesus, the Messiah.
* [1:18–25] This first story of the infancy narrative spells out what is summarily indicated in Mt 1:16. The virginal conception of Jesus is the work of the Spirit of God. Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary is overcome by the heavenly command that he take her into his home and accept the child as his own. The natural genealogical line is broken but the promises to David are fulfilled; through Joseph’s adoption the child belongs to the family of David. Matthew sees the virginal conception as the fulfillment of Is 7:14.
* [1:18] Betrothed to Joseph: betrothal was the first part of the marriage, constituting a man and woman as husband and wife. Subsequent infidelity was considered adultery. The betrothal was followed some months later by the husband’s taking his wife into his home, at which time normal married life began.
* [1:19] A righteous man: as a devout observer of the Mosaic law, Joseph wished to break his union with someone whom he suspected of gross violation of the law. It is commonly said that the law required him to do so, but the texts usually given in support of that view, e.g., Dt 22:20–21 do not clearly pertain to Joseph’s situation. Unwilling to expose her to shame: the penalty for proved adultery was death by stoning; cf. Dt 22:21–23.
* [1:20] The angel of the Lord: in the Old Testament a common designation of God in communication with a human being. In a dream: see Mt 2:13, 19, 22. These dreams may be meant to recall the dreams of Joseph, son of Jacob the patriarch (Gn 37:5–11, 19). A closer parallel is the dream of Amram, father of Moses, related by Josephus (Antiquities 2, 9, 3; (par.) 212, 215–16). (Matthew, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Vivian Amu invites us to pause and consider the ways God is fully involved in our shared humanity and the ways God manifests in our lives. Let us anchor ourselves in the profound truth that God is with us, guiding our steps and illuminating our paths.
When we seek hope amidst uncertainty,
Loving God, you are with us.
When we try to extend our hearts beyond our comfort zones,
Loving God, you are with us.
When we let go of what we expect and embrace the chaos of life with a heart full of joy.
Loving God, you are with us, and we are grateful. Amen. (Amu, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “The righteous branch of David is Christ,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"There was only one remedy in the secret of the divine plan that could help the fallen living in the general ruin of the entire human race (Jeremiah 23:5-8). This remedy was that one of the sons of Adam should be born free and innocent of original transgression, to prevail for the rest by his example and by his merits. This was not permitted by natural generation. There could be no clean offspring from our faulty stock by this seed. The Scripture says, 'Who can make a clean thing conceived of an unclean seed? Isn't it you alone?' (Job 14:4) David's Lord was made David's Son, and from the fruit of the promised branch sprang. He is one without fault, the twofold nature coming together into one person. By this one and the same conception and birth sprung our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom was present both true Godhead for the performance of mighty works and true manhood for the endurance of sufferings." (excerpt from Sermon 28.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 23:5-8 comments that Mary must have become more and more excited as her time drew near. The physical demands of her pregnancy probably meant that she needed to slow down and rest more. And that gave her more time to ponder all that was about to happen. We, on the other hand, tend to speed up as Christmas approaches.
Jesus is still reaching into the dark and broken places of this world, inviting everyone to break free of whatever exile they are in. If you slow down just a bit, you might be able to sense him stretching out his hand, ready to perform another miracle. Isn’t that an exciting prospect?
“Jesus, I am in awe of your desire to deliver us. Lord, let the world see your power again!” (Meditation on Jeremiah 23:5-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the change in Jeremiah from condemnation of the conduct of Israel to celebration of a righteous shoot and a second Exodus through which the people will be brought back to the Lord. Rabinnic Law would have Mary stoned but the action of Joseph redefines righteousness as compassion. Friar Jude notes the change in Matthew’s Gospel where the Hebrew word for maiden referring to Isaiah’s wife is translated by the Greek word for virgin “parthenos” as Matthew seeks to identify Jesus as the Son of God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, understands Jesus’ vine and branches metaphor ( John 15:5 ) as an illustration of mutual indwelling: Christ in us and us in Christ.
A branch that has remained lovingly and consciously connected to its Source (God, Jesus, our Higher Power) offers a very different perspective. When Jesus spoke of a cut-off branch, he meant a person who can only see from the small position of me and what meets my needs. It seems to me our society is largely populated by such disconnected branches, where a commitment to the common good has become a rarity.
Seeing through a lens beyond our own self is what I call participative seeing. This is the new self that can say excitedly with Paul, “I live no longer, not I, but it is Christ now living in me” (Galatians 2:20). This primal communion immediately communicates a spaciousness, a joy, and a quiet contentment. It is not anxious, because the illusion of a gap between me and the world has already been overcome.
A mature believer knows that it is impossible not to be connected to the Source, or to be “on the vine,” as Jesus says. But most people are not consciously there yet. They are not “saved” from themselves, which is the only thing we really need to be saved from. They do not yet live out of their objective, totally given, and unearned identity, “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek enlightenment by the Spirit to contemplate the Incarnation of the Son in human form and the meaning of this to our communion as children of God.
References
Amu, V. (2024, December 18). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121824.html
Jeremiah, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/23?5
Matthew, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/1?18
Meditation on Jeremiah 23:5-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/18/1153151/
Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/72?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Holiness Is Our First Nature. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/holiness-is-our-first-nature/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Will Save His People from Their Sins. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec18
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