December 18 2018 - O Adonai - He shall save His People

One of the things that has always struck me about today’s Gospel story, of the archangel’s visit to St. Joseph, is that the archangel tells Joseph what he is to name the Christ child. Modern parents will often spend a lot of time flipping through books of baby names, actually they have websites for that now, to help them decide what they will name their child. They might pick a name in honor of a grandparent, a celebrity or saint, or they might pick a name whose meaning contains characteristics they hope their children will embody. My first name, for example, Kevin, has irish or gaelic roots, and means gentle, noble, and kind. I think my parents did a pretty good job with that, don’t you?

In ancient Israel, the child’s father was responsible for naming the child. Earlier in the Gospel of Luke, we hear how Zechariah names his son to be John. That God chooses the name of the Christ child shows that the son of Mary is the true Divine Son of the Heavenly Father. And God too chooses a name that will characterize the Son’s identity and mission. The Archangel announces the Father’s will, “You shall name Him Jesus”  The name ‘Jesus’ is derived from the Old Testament name “Joshua” which means, “God is salvation”.  What a perfect name. Jesus is God, and He is our salvation.

Now, first-century Jews were expecting God to save them from their political enemies.  Rome was occupying their land, controlling their religious life, cruelly torturing and murdering Jews who spoke out against Rome.

But the angel tells Joseph, that Jesus wasn’t going to save Israel from their earthly enemies.  Jesus was going to save Israel and all mankind from their sins.  For sin is a greater threat than any political enemy. Sin brought about not just an enemy’s occupation of one’s homeland, but the occupation of one’s soul. Sin threatened not just one’s national identity, but a defacement of one’s identity as a child of God.

The Advent O Antiphons for this morning applies another name from the Old Testament to the Christ Child. I sang “O Adonai”.  O Lord and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm. 

Jesus is identified as the God who led Israel out of Egyptian slavery, who gave them the law that they might be a holy nation.

These names and titles help us to truly prepare for Christmas because amidst all the busyness, they help us to focus on who Jesus is, and what really matters.  That to us is born a savior who came to free us from being separated from God, from our destructive habits.

That Jesus is Lord, Adonai, means that we belong to him, we owe our loyalty to Him we owe our obedience to his law, and we owe worship to his glory, bringing to him the pure and acceptable offering of the total submission of our minds, hearts, and lives. May our honor of him help every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.