Daily Retreat 12/24/08

2008 Dec 24 Wed: Advent Weekday Morning:  2 Sm 7:1-5.8-11.16/Ps 88(89):2-3. 4-5. 27 and 29/Lk 1:67-79 Vigil of Christmas: Is 62:1-5/Ps 88(89):4-5, 16-17, 27, 29/Acts 13:16-17.22-25/Mt 1:1-15 From today's readings:  "The LORD also reveals to you that He will establish a house for you.....  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord....  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for He has come to His people and set them free." Of the House of David The promised Messiah is hinted at in earlier verses of scripture (such as Genesis 3:15, known as the "proto-evangelium," the first announcement of the good news of Christ's coming), but the divine promise which most inspired the Israelites to look to the coming Messiah was the one delivered by the prophet Nathan to King David.  In answer to the king's plan to build a house (temple) for God, instead, God opts to raise a house (dynasty) for David - to establish his heir (who will be Son to God) as the One who would rule forever.  Each of the Gospels (particularly Matthews!) takes pains to demonstrate Jesus as "born of the house of His servant David" (see today's Gospel, Luke 1:69) and therefore, the longed-for Messiah!