Son of David and Son of God
4th Sunday of Advent

Antonio P. Pueyo
Reproduced with Permission

By this time many of us have attended the series of Aguinaldo masses (dawn masses in the Philippines). The Gospel reading this last Sunday of Advent has been read in the fifth dawn mass. In these dawn masses there was a procession of characters who played important roles in God’s plan of salvation, from both the Old to the New Testament. Mentions were made of the ancestors of Jesus following the Davidic line, establishing His royal and messianic lineage. Joseph who is from the Davidic clan took the role of human father to Jesus and husband of Mary. Indeed Jesus deserves the title Son of David.

There were also the different personalities in the scriptures whose birth were out of the ordinary: Isaac, Samuel, Samson, and John the Baptist. With God’s intervention, they were born from parents who were thought to be barren. The birth of Jesus would even be more extraordinary and unique. He was born of a Virgin Mother. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was a one and only form of intervention by God in human history. Indeed Jesus is Son of God.

Action starter: Express your appreciation to a person who has touched your life.

These two titles would be used for Jesus in the Gospels and the New Testament writings. There were other titles ascribed to Him such Immanuel, the Christ, the Messiah, the Lord, the Savior and the Nazarene. These titles emphasize his being both truly human and truly divine. God in His goodness entered human history in and through Jesus Christ, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is the mystery of the Incarnation. This is the core message of Christmas.

God intervenes in human history but He also does this with the cooperation of flesh and blood human beings. The Christmas story is made possible because specific persons made concrete decision to cooperate with God’s plan – sometimes hesitatingly. God’s plan is made possible because people responded to God’s mission for them in their life: to become the father of nations like Abraham, to lead his people out of slavery like Moses, to be a courageous and just king like David, to prepare the way of the Lord like John the Baptist, to be the head of the holy family like Joseph, and to be the Mother of the Savior like Mary.

As we continue our reflections on the beautiful and mysterious event of the Incarnation, we are also challenged to take a look at our own mission in life. God created us and put us in this world for a purpose. We may not be as famous and as well-known as world leaders or entertainment personalities, however God has a design for us. Each blade of grass, each flower, each sand on the beach has a purpose. How much more for each one of us who is created in the likeness and image of God?

As we give gifts or receive gifts this Christmas, let us be reminded that we are God’s special gifts. We are gifts to our families, friends, and the whole world. Life is God’s gift to us. Let us appreciate this great gift and take good care of it. Most of all we thank the Lord for His wonderful gift of creating us and putting us into this world, eventually to be one with Him in His kingdom. We are human but we are also heirs of the divine.

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