December 18

Title

A Righteous Branch for David

Outline

Kingly rule is out of fashion

Inherited kingship - not democratic

Rule by a royal house - too top down, hierarchal

We want liberty - that is the watchword of the USA

And yet the scriptures speak of a king, if a strange type of king

Jeremiah see “a righteous branch for David”

The house of David had fallen and before that it certainly was not righteous

Yet this one would “reign and govern wisely”

And “in his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security” - there would be a regathering and relative peace

In part this came to pass in the days of Zerubbabel ben Shealtiel, but only in part

And his name was not Yahweh-Tsidqenu

We must look further

Matthew describes a descendant of Zerubbabel, perhaps by a collateral line

He is perhaps 20 or a bit younger, and he contracts marriage with Miriam whose parents or relatives are not mentioned as Joseph’s are also not mentioned

She is from a pious family, Luke says it is levite, and he is himself pious - righteous is how Matthew puts it

While he is gathering the mohar and arranging living quarters, he hears Miriam is pregnant - the text says that it was “through the Holy Spirit,” but apparently no one knew that, including Joseph.

He is loyal to his wife - we would say that he loves her or seeks her best - but as a righteous man he cannot condone this act nor raise seed to David who was not Davidic

It was relatively uncommon for such a woman to be executed; Joseph did not even want public shaming, which might leave prostitution as the only way for her to live. No, divorce before two witnesses would be the right thing, upholding justice and also God’s mercy. Perhaps Miriam could go and live with other relatives and no one in town would know.

Then God speaks, not through an angelic visitation, but through a dream. He addresses him as ““Joseph, son of David” - placing him in the royal line

God tells him the nature of the pregnancy, “it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.”

Then Joseph is instructed, “you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” You - you will be his father and take the father’s function, placing the boy in the Davidic line. But he will do what Jeremiah said he would do, save his people from their sins.

The gospel author breaks in with the Greek version of Isaiah 7:14, Jesus, of course, was named Jesus, not Emmanuel, so that would have made no sense to Joseph, nor would the whole application of the verse have made sense to Ahaz.

Yet Joseph does not need to understand. He has the information he needs to obey God and he is a righteous man. He gets up in the morning and goes and gets Mary and brings her home. Was there a procession and a party? We do not know, although peasants rarely have the funds for a big fuss and Joseph had not yet gathered all the funds he needed.

When Jesus was born, perhaps along with the wonder of counting ten toes and fingers on such a small body Joseph mused, “So this is God’s king. Go figure. I’m not sure I get it.”

Sisters, we live in a kingdom, but in a strange kingdom

The king could have been born in a palace, but he was born in a peasant house to a poor couple.

The king would save Israel and even rule the nations, but he is a helpless baby in a household that the local rulers would not even notice.

The king is to be served, but only pagans would serve him in a royal way. Joseph served by working as a laborer to put bread on the table and Mary by childcare and keeping the household running.

And that is still the way we serve this strange king, by humble work and simple obedience, for his kingdom will turn the world on its head and he will save his people from their sins.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 12-18-2021: December 18

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 23:5–8

5 See, days are coming—oracle of the LORD—

when I will raise up a righteous branch for David;

As king he shall reign and govern wisely,

he shall do what is just and right in the land.

6 In his days Judah shall be saved,

Israel shall dwell in security.

This is the name to be given him:

“The LORD our justice.”

7 Therefore, the days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt”; 8 but rather, “As the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north”—and from all the lands to which I banished them; they shall again live on their own soil.

Catholic Daily Readings 12-18-2021: December 18

RESPONSE

Psalm 72:7

7 That abundance may flourish in his days,

great bounty, till the moon be no more.

PSALM

Psalm 72:1–2, 12–13, 18–19

1 Of Solomon.

2 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,

12 For he rescues the poor when they cry out,

the oppressed who have no one to help.

13 He shows pity to the needy and the poor

and saves the lives of the poor.

18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,

who alone does wonderful deeds.

19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;

may he fill all the earth with his glory.

Amen and amen.

Catholic Daily Readings 12-18-2021: December 18

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Text

GOSPEL

Matthew 1:18–25

18 Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 20 Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. 21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,

and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. 25 He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 12-18-2021: December 18

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021 | ADVENT

DECEMBER 18

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Jeremiah 23:5–8

Response Psalm 72:7

Psalm Psalm 72:1–2, 12–13, 18–19

Gospel Acclamation Text

Gospel Matthew 1:18–25

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