Advent 16th December

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. “In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called,  'The Lord our righteousness.' Jeremiah 23:5-6

Readings

Psalm  75,   

Jeremiah 23:5-6, 
Matthew 5:1-11

 

Reflection

 

Throughout history Israel had many number of kings - some were wicked alongside the kings of the surrounding areas. Others fell somewhere along the continuum of righteousness, with even the best missing the mark. Solomon, who received great wisdom from God and built a magnificent temple married foreign women who “turned away his heart after other gods” (I Kings 11:4). Or let us consider David, “a man after God’s own heart” , who fell into the sins of adultery and murder in the midst of his prosperous reign. If these, considered great amongst Israel’s kings, fell into sin, it’s clear that the stage is set for the need of a truly righteous king. This king, the righteous Branch prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer. 23:5-6), is Jesus, whose advent we celebrate. But He would be much more than a righteous King ruling a nation, though in a messy world we need a “righteous King .“ We need a  righteous king to help us  in our own world too—in our own unrighteousness.

How about you ?Do you long for a day when things will be different? What are these things and what can you do to make a difference? What reconciliation has to be made? What change? What respect? What hand of friendship? What difference for God? What wrong made right? What journey made?  For Christ to be Lord of all—we need his “kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven”.

Prayers 

Holy and Righteous God
I thank you that your word is no longer solely a commandment but a gift of love, incarnate in Christ.
I thank you for the gift of knowing you for  in you we  are transformed.
Continue to work in me O God I pray.

Amen