The People’s Obedience

The People’s Obedience

Monday of the Third Week in Advent

Judah is a lion’s cub, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches, lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his feet, Until tribute comes to him, and he receives the people’s obedience.  Genesis 49:9-10

Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations. Matthew 1:15-17

Piety

O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the king’s son; that he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment, that the mountains may yield their bounty for the people, and the hills great abundance, that he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the children of the poor and crush the oppressor. (Psalm 72:1-4)

Study

If there was any doubt that Jesus was of this world, the detailed genealogy presented to open the Gospel from St. Matthew puts that lineage fear to rest. Since the time the Book of Genesis was set forth, the Messiah was expected to come from the line of David.

According to the notes in the NABRE, this last sentence of the first reading has been traditionally understood in a messianic sense. In any case, the passage aims at the supremacy of the tribe of Judah and of the Davidic dynasty from which the messiah-king will rise up.

As we go through the last two weeks of Advent, we will get further evidence that Jesus is also of heaven.  However, for now, we are concentrating on the human nature of the Savior.

Action

Does God receive your obedience?  These days, there is evidence at every turn shaking my faith in the leadership of the Church. However, what is not shaken is my faith in God.  The Church has its flaws – and those flaws arise because of the very nature of the human who built and run the church.