Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” November-December 2023

4th Sunday of Advent (B)
4th week, Psalter

FIRST READING

From the Second Book of Samuel (2Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16)
King David, when he had settled in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, said to the prophet Nathan: “See, I dwell in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells under tent curtains.” Nathan replied to the king: “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: “Go and tell my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house in which I may dwell? I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to make you leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, I have destroyed all your enemies before you, and I will make your name great like the names of the great ones on the earth. I will appoint a place for Israel, my people, and I will plant them there so that they may dwell in their own place and no longer tremble, and so that evildoers may not oppress them as before and from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord announces to you that he will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, one who comes from your body, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom shall be firm forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.’” – The word of God.

Commentary on the first reading

King David is a true believer, an authentic Israelite. Despite the sins he committed and various weaknesses, he is a very generous man: he realizes that the ark of the covenant needs a solemn and worthy place and cannot be kept in a tent, as it was during the journey through the desert from Egypt to the promised land. God responds to this request by showing him infinitely greater generosity, reversing the discussion about the house and promising David a dynasty. The temple will be built (not by David, but by his son); in the meantime, however, David’s kingdom is consolidated in an eternal dimension, because from him will be born not merely a king who will rule over human affairs, but the one who will take sin from the world, destroying Satan’s work and obtaining divine sonship for humanity. In this sense Jesus, who is also God, is called “son of David,” a descendant of his in the generational line. Let us learn from David to activate God’s generosity, which is one of his main attributes. If we are generous toward our neighbor, we “force” God to be generous with us.

SECOND READING

From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans (Rom 16:25-27)
Brothers and sisters, to him who has the power to strengthen you according to my gospel, which proclaims Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the writings of the prophets, by the command of the eternal God, made known to all the nations to bring them to the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever and ever. Amen. – The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

 What we have read is the conclusion of the Letter to the Romans. After all the greetings, the Apostle lifts his eyes to God and praises him, praying that all the nations may attain the “obedience of faith.” Ultimately, this is the desire we should all have: that those who have listened to us may be strengthened in the Gospel and obey the things that have been taught for their salvation. Paul is not interested in merely human politeness, nor does he care about being either a renowned teacher or apostle: he cares only that people be saved. And this is possible only if people enter into the mystery of God and allow themselves to become involved, changing erroneous ways and customs in order to live in the freedom of the children of God. Thus, the author of the letter promises his prayer for the distant Romans, so that they may feel supported in their spiritual battles by divine grace, but also by the assistance of the apostles and believers in Christ. If, when we go to visit a friend, we ended the meeting with a similar prayer, we would have given this friendship a very elevated meaning.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-38)
At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Coming to her, he said: “Rejoice, full of grace: the Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled by what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel: “How can this be, since I do not know man?” The angel said to her in reply: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord: may it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. – The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

The story of Redemption begins with an apparition. The “world of God” unexpectedly becomes present before the very young Virgin of Nazareth, with the angel’s annunciation. The Gospel ends with another apparition, that of the risen Jesus to the apostles. Thus, the Lord’s story is enclosed within the boundaries of two apparitions, which are therefore not random phenomena. This also applies to the apparitions of Our Lady to various visionaries throughout the centuries: she comes and makes herself present in time to communicate something important to people. The most important apparition in history is certainly this one: it is not “of” Our Lady but “to” Our Lady. Everything begins here. From that moment, the Virgin Mary becomes not only the messenger but the bearer, the “theophora” of God, she who speaks of and carries Jesus. The mystery of the Incarnation takes place once in time and history, but every day we receive Jesus from her. The Son is never without the Mother. Let us never despise Marian apparitions when they are authentic, because the messages continue through time so that we may awaken from our torpor and open the eyes of faith to Christ’s presence.