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