Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Different points to the Temple: 4th Sunday in Advent Season

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Close to the finish line for Advent!
Let’s jump deeply into some of these thoughts from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans
·      In a special way, I would like to focus on the Temple in the Old Testament
·      the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages…”
o   Temple
o   David “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
§  God said that he will not build this temple, but his son would: Solomon
§  God promised           David: “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”
o   “…I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.  I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.”
§  On the first level, it looked like Solomon was the new king who built the Temple was built for God’s presence
·      Ark: 10 Commandments, manna and a staff
§  While this seems like many centuries, it was destroyed
§  It looked like the answer, but it was deeper what God was preparing us
§  He sent His son, for a new King, a new kingdom and finding new nations for Him
§  Solomon built the Temple which was the center of life, community, worship, politically and morality under God’s laws
·      “…now manifested through the prophetic writings
o   Prophets for centuries were calling God’s people to follow His law, His mission, His relationship and justice for the poor
o   They got off of their track
o   Eventually the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and their lives were tragic
And where did the Temple go?
·      Today it has a west wall as one small section from the Temple
·      But now the Temple was not a building, but a person: Mary
o   "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
·      She received God’s Son in her womb
o   And in her was Jesus Christ: the new law, the new bread and the new priesthood
All of this is powerful pieces in God’s puzzle for us
·      And as we conclude Advent, we know that God has reestablished His kingdom on earth
·      This kingdom is forever


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