GOD’S INTENTION

[1]“The path to hell is paved with good intentions.” I remember a family member casually using this maxim one day. A teenager at the time, I was repelled by the thought. It made me think the world was a trap, designed by an evil genius, a life with rules vulnerable to manipulation. That after doing my best to play by the rules, I might still be thrown under the bus by an ill-tempered God. I imagined myself, completely spent after a life of trying to do the right thing and perplexedly staring at the gates of hell.[2]

King David after gaining control of Jerusalem, built himself a house of cedar. He’s proud of his accomplishments, however, his conscience troubles him. He’s enjoying the luxury of a fine, permanent residence, but the ark of the covenant is still housed in a tent. David speaks with the prophet Nathan about this inconsistency. Initially, Nathen states the obvious, “Whatever is in your heart, go and do, for the LORD is with you.” (2 Sm 7:3)

That same night, God speaks to Nathan—in effect, telling him to go ask David who he thinks he is, “is it you who will build me a house” (2 Sm 7:5) when, in fact, Yahweh is the master builder. God’s concern isn’t a dwelling place for himself, but rather an everlasting kingdom.

In light of the Advent/Christmas seasons, this reading can be interpreted as: 1) God’s opposition to a temple because the ark is in a movable tent and, therefore, a stronger sign that God will be with the people no matter where they are; 2) God is building a household for David, not vice versa; 3) God is assuring David’s seed will rule Israel forever; and 4) this promise is the inspiration for the Jewish expectation of a Messiah.

The importance that Jews placed on the promise of a Davidic dynasty; “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me”, (2 Sm 7:16) is evident in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke affirming Joseph, husband of Mary, was from the house of David as listed in their genealogies for Jesus.[3]

The ark will go missing; David’s dynasty seemingly ends with the Babylonian exile; but the promise remains in the people’s hearts and minds. They trust in the Lord’s promise.

While today’s first reading doesn’t include v14b, there is an important proviso in Nathan’s prophecy. God makes clear that sins will be punished, but God will not withdraw his favor from David’s seed. Therefore, we can trust in the Lord’s promise. For God’s intention is that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb 13:5)

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19.

[2] Blessedishe.net, “Good Intentions vs. God’s Intentions” by Savanna J. Buckner, June 11, 2018

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegesis and Homily Suggestion by Norman Langenbrunner

THE GIFT OF PRESENCE

You’ve heard it said, “It’s the thought that counts” when it comes to giving gifts, right?!  Well with Christmas just a week away, and shipping deadlines passing fast, there are only a few more opportunities to find the perfect gift for your loved ones.

Have you ever received a gift from your beloved that made you want to say, “Seriously, what were you thinking?” With this in mind, it occurred to me, this might be a good time to share the 10 worst gifts a man can get his beloved:

#10  Nothing. It doesn’t matter if she told you she wanted nothing, this is code talk for, “Seriously, we’ve been together long enough, you should be able to figure out what I’d like for Christmas.”

   #9  Cash Card. If you’re like me you’ve asked your beloved for a list of desired gifts about October, but you notice on the credit receipts the same items that are on her list. So, it only makes sense (to a man) to give a cash card so she can buy what she wants.

   #8  Home Depot Gift Card. While there are some women who would love a HD Gift Card, however, the norm would suggest it would draw a question like; “Who are you getting the gift for anyway?”

   #7  Framed Picture of Yourself.  May smack as a bit too narcissistic for her.

The next 5 items may beg the question, “What are you trying to say?” gifting…

     #6   cooking supplies,

     #5   a gym membership,               

     #4   a subscription to a Women’s Health magazine,

     #3   a Weight Watchers scale, or

     #2   beauty products (i.e. wrinkle remover)

And the #1 worst gift a man can get his beloved for Christmas is a vacuum cleaner. It doesn’t matter if it was on her list! Go deeper.

Now, there’s no doubt this may have just made someone’s last minute Christmas shopping just a bit more stressful.  As we enter the “peace” of the fourth week of Advent, it seems only natural that we might be focused on the Christmas “presents” to be given and received.  Yet the Church, in her infinite wisdom, gives us a gospel to ponder and pray over that tends to grab our attention away from the Christmas “presents” to remind us of the Christmas “presence” as much more important.

Mary’s presence was a grace to Elizabeth. Mary had the awareness of her cousin’s needs, needs that can only be fulfilled by her presence. A presence first acknowledged by a joyous leap of John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb and then by a greeting acknowledging Mary’s faith and the presence of God in Mary’s womb.

In just a week we will celebrate the fruit of Mary’s womb, the birth of the child: Jesus, the Son of Mary, the Son of God, born fully human and fully divine. This is the world’s Christmas present, the perfect presence of the Christ Child, the long awaited one the prophets for told of.

For those that may be rethinking their gift plans, it’s easy to go online or drop by the mall to purchase a gift—but the gift of your presence, the gift of ourselves, the making of time to be with others knowing their needs, is a presence many people long for, but may not receive. As I write this, I thought of those in nursing homes, hospitals, or jails with restricted access, those who have lost a loved one and are spending their first Christmas alone without their physical presence, and the homeless who are experiencing Christmas as just another day of being rousted to move on and disappear. There is no greater present that we can give to another than our presence.  How do we find the courage and the strength to do this?

The answer lies in the reason we are gathered around the table of the Word of God and the mystery of this Eucharistic table, with all our hopes, our faith, joys and sorrows to be nourished by the greatest gift of presence ever given. God gave us—his physical presence, in the person of Jesus.[1] and we are called to share this gift of presence in our daily lives.

This gift of presence is powerful. It’s a power that draws people, who may not participate regularly in Mass, but are making their bi-annual pilgrimage, to join family and friends, in this community’s joyful reception of God’s great gift of presence, His Word incarnate. These pilgrims will pack local churches and while it may create a parking nightmare, and the possibility we may not get to sit in our regular pew. (Please do not ask them to get out of your seat!) Their presence is a graced gift of hope. Introduce yourself and welcome them, because these pilgrims are there to satisfy a need and desire, to be with and receive the greatest gift they could ever receive, the presence of the God, who dwells in each one of us, the God who loves every one of his children, the God who is love, the God who is Emmanuel.

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Scriptures: Micah 5:1-4a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

[1] Hungry, and You Fed Me, Editied by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2012. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.” by Dcn Jim Knipper.

THE GENESIS OF US

[1]One of the most rewarding aspects of genealogy is uncovering stories about your ancestors that you may never have known — no matter how crazy — and preserving them for future generations. You never know what thrilling tales await you in the memories of past generations. For example, a MyHeritage user Tweeted about a crazy story they learned about their great-grandfather: an article was discovered entitled, “Motorist Loses Life in Eating Banana.”[2] Seems her great-grandfather was attempting to eat a banana and drive an automobile at the same time. This 38-year-old carpenter, lost control and ran off the road.

Contemporary ancestry programs trace lines back in order to discover from where and from whom one has come. The genealogy in today’s reading traces forward in order to discover the line from Abraham through David to Jesus, thus rooting Jesus in the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Israel’s kings. This is “the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.” Better yet, a literal translation from the Greek, this is “the book of the genesis of Jesus Christ,” which reads like Gn 2:4 “This is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation.” So, this is something new, a beginning, an advent!

Matthew tells this advent story of a new Messiah. A story where the patriarchs all had great flaws (lying, manipulating, consorting with prostitutes, etc.), showing us that God is NOT controlled by human merit. Our God always shows his impossible graciousness. Although the kings who follow David are corrupt and uninspiring, they are part of the genesis of Jesus Christ.

We find folks in the genealogy who are “unknown and unexpected.” There were certainly sinners among them, but God’s grace allows his will to be done through people otherwise considered unimportant and forgettable. The four women mentioned, is unusual in a patriarchal genealogy, yet through them, God’s Spirit continued the sacred line of the Messiah. Sinners, foreigners, and prostitutes are all part of Jesus’ story. They all experienced a Messiah who graciously dealt with them. Then comes Mary, the humble and obedient instrument of God’s Spirit; her womb cradled this humble Messiah.[3]

God wrote the story of his Christ with crooked lines. Who are the characters in the story of the “genesis of us?” Reflect on the sequence to our story, acknowledge some of the crooked lines that make up our lives and our witness. What will our great-grandchildren find in their genealogical search to discover where they came from? Will their search point them to the “wisdom of God the Most High!”

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19.

[2] MyHeritage Blog, “Shocking Family History Discoveries” by Esther, August 15, 2019.

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegesis by Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA, PhD and Homily Suggestion by Leota Roesch.