The Annunciation story has been read more than a hundred times. So has the Nathan Oracle. Once every three years, we hear them read together on the 4th Advent Sunday. We have heard many a priest deliver his homily on them, but it took a Fr. Milanese to join them together meaningfully.
David was raised from a shepherd boy to the status of a king to shepherd the people of Israel. He had been successful all because God had chosen him. So, when he hinted at building a Temple to honour God, Nathan the prophet diplomatically approved of his wish, explaining that God was with him.
And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you." (2 Samuel 7:3)
What more can we ask of God? If He is with us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).
From this, we see that David was ambitious. Of course, there is no doubt about his passionate love of God. This was fully demonstrated in public eyes when he, as a king, danced half-naked before the Ark to welcome it into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). However, by building a Temple to house the Ark, David would be able to centralize the worship over all the land. This was politically and economically lucrative. When God was put on his side, who else dared to rise up against him?
But David was wrong. He had miscalculated. God did not need to live in any man-made building. He had never complained about living in a tent only.
I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" (2 Samuel 7:6-7)
God cared more about the people than a building. He wanted the people more than the Temple. Some 300 years later, God spoke again through Isaiah that we would never be able to build anything to contain and thus control God. He wanted not a building, but a human and contrite heart instead.
Thus says the LORD:"Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool;what is the house which you would build for me,and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:1-2)
Therefore, Stephen was not wrong in reminding the Jewish authority again. Yet, because of this, he was stoned to death. The Jews killed him because Stephen had blasphemed a building! That was why God had no intention to live in a Temple.
Returning to David, God reminded him of his humble beginning and that his successes were all due to God's support. So, David should not spend his energy building God a magnificent Temple. Rather, he should spend his energy shepherding the people of Israel, guiding them towards God. God wants a congregation, not a temple.
Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel;
and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.' (2 Samuel 7:8-11a)
In similar vein, Fr. Milanese explained that a Church is not built with stones, but with people. Of course, building a beautiful church is good because it uplifts the spirit of the congregation. But the hearts count more than the stones.
Now, let's turn to look at the story of Mary. It is very likely that she was no more than a naive teenage girl, living in Nazareth, the outskirt of the Judea administrative region, a Roman colony. The fate of Mary had already been sealed. She was betrothed to Joseph, of the house of David (Luke 1:27). Fate has finally brought the two into contrast. Mary enjoyed no status nor power. Her place was in the kitchen to raise children for her husband.
But God has an ambitious plan awaiting her. No, not awaiting but unfolding in. The plan has already kicked into motion. Before her conception, God has already prepared her by removing the stains of Original Sin from her. Through the redemptive grace of her son in the future, Mary was immaculately conceived. That explains why when Gabriel hailed her, the archangel described her as κεχαριτωμένη full of grace (Luke 1:28).
Heavens and earth were hushed and listened attentively to the dialogue between Mary and Gabriel. God was inviting Mary to cooperate with Him in the redemption of the whole Creation. All living souls were anxious to hear her consent.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:22-23).
At last, Mary announced
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
Mary is our model. She is destined to be called the Mother of God because of the divinity of her son. That is the theme of the whole Bible. The lowly shall be exalted.
David's story is a bit tragic. He had been lowly and was exalted. But his greatness led to his downfall. Though through Nathan, God declared the eternity of his throne, his kingdom was split and conquered by the Assyrians and Babylonians.
Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son (2 Samuel 7:11b-14a).
David had been a hero until he met Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (2 Samuel 11). The adultery led to murder and the nameless child died seven days after its birth. The next son was Solomon, the future famous wise king who built the Temple but in which he put idols to please his wives. The kingdom was divided after his death.
When we look back, we understand that my son in this Nathan Oracle does not refer to Solomon, but to Jesus, the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind. Jesus was born of a lowly woman. He is fully human and fully divine. He had not built an empire, nor had he waged wars against any earthly princes. He even died a shameful death on the cross. Yet, through him, the Kingdom of Heaven is established on earth and nowadays nearly one fifth of mankind call on his name and await his Second Coming at the end of the world.
As Christmas is drawing near, we should meditate on the life of Mary and avoid making the same mistakes as David.
Come O Lord! Your people are anxiously waiting. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment