{"id":5506,"date":"2020-12-20T11:54:47","date_gmt":"2020-12-20T16:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=5506"},"modified":"2020-12-20T11:54:47","modified_gmt":"2020-12-20T16:54:47","slug":"4th-sunday-of-advent-year-b-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/4th-sunday-of-advent-year-b-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"4th Sunday of Advent, Year B – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

4th<\/sup> Sunday of Advent, Year B<\/a>
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 (2a)
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-28
December 20, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David had become a great king, living in a great palace.  There, \u201cthe LORD had given him rest from his enemies<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing what the Lord had done for him, King David said to Nathan the prophet, \u201cHere I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ark of God, the Ark of the Covenant, contained the Ten Commandments.  The Ark was the very presence of God among the people.  David saw it as unfitting that the Lord should not have a temple of his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathan agreed with David but before David could begin building a temple the Lord spoke to Nathan to say it was not for David to build the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we jump to the conclusion that this means we shouldn\u2019t have church buildings, please note that the Lord did have a place to dwell.  It was a tent but it was what God had directed and it was no ordinary tent.  It was the Tabernacle.  If you read the story of the Exodus, you will hear the specific instructions God gave about the \u201ctent\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord goes on speaking to Nathan to remind him of the great things the Lord has done for David. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the Lord delivers his promise of a great heir who will establish a house of David.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We see a partial immediate fulfillment of this promise in David\u2019s son, Solomon, who will build a great temple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We see the ultimate fulfillment of the Lord\u2019s promise to David in the coming of Jesus.  Through many kings, some who were good, and some who were bad, the Lord continued the lineage (house) of David through the centuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there were kings who disobedient, Jesus came obedient to the Father, even to the point of death on the Cross for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is with Jesus as the king that the kingdom \u201cshall endure forever<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our gospel today tells the story of the beginning of Jesus\u2019 time on earth at his conception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe angel Gabriel was sent from God<\/em>\u2026to a virgin betrothed<\/strong> to a man name Joseph<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virgin.  Betrothed.  Joseph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why a virgin?  So that it would be clear this happened by the power of God and for Mary\u2019s womb to be pure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why betrothed?  And why specifically mention Joseph?  Because a family with a good mother and good father is what God intends.  It doesn\u2019t always happen but it is the Lord\u2019s desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The angel Gabriel greets Mary, \u201cHail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you.<\/em>\u201d  Mary was immaculately conceived.  She is \u201cfull of grace!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet Mary was \u201cgreatly troubled<\/em>\u201d by this greeting and \u201cpondered what sort of greeting<\/em>\u201d it was.  Gabriel assured her, \u201cDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.<\/em>\u201d  Gabriel assures her that God is with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabriel tells Mary she has been chosen to conceive Jesus in her womb and that He \u201cwill be called Son of the Most High<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary wonders, \u201cHow can this be<\/em>\u201d for she has never been with a man.  Mary is not doubting God.  She seeks understanding.  She asks in faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The angel Gabriel answers her, \u201cThe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is enough for Mary.  With \u201cobedience of faith<\/em>\u201d, she said, \u201cBehold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.<\/em>\u201d  Mary says yes.  This is known as Mary\u2019s \u201cfiat\u201d (\u201cfiat\u201d means \u201clet it be done).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From her yes Jesus, the Son of God, comes to dwell in her womb.  Mary\u2019s womb becomes a tabernacle, housing the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When have you said yes to God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When have you said no to God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When have you said \u201cnot yet\u201d to God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not yet?  Are you holding back?  I think of St. Augustine who had led an immoral life until his conversion, admitting at first, he prayed, \u201cMake me chaste but not yet.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In saying \u201cnot yet\u201d, we are saying that there are other things we want to do over what the Lord asks of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord wants to dwell in our hearts.  He wants us to be temples of the Holy Spirit.  When we say \u201cno\u201d we do not let the Lord in.  When we say, \u201cnot yet\u201d, we hold God at a distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you willing to say to God, \u201cmay be done to me according to your word<\/em>\u201d?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

4th Sunday of Advent, Year B2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 (2a)Romans 16:25-27Luke 1:26-28December 20, 2020 David had become a great king, living in a great palace.  There, \u201cthe LORD had given him rest from his enemies.\u201d  Knowing what the Lord had done for him, King David said to Nathan the …<\/p>\n

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