FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45)
There is little new in today's gospel. We have reflected
upon it often as the second joyful mystery of the rosary. However, a second look will reveal that it
shows for the first time in the gospels a human person recognizing Jesus as
God. It does not matter that Jesus has not yet been born. Nor does it matter
that Elizabeth does not use the word “God.” By calling the creature in Mary's
womb “my Lord,” Elizabeth identifies him as God Almighty.
The Jews had such great reverence for the name God gave
Moses at the burning bush that they did not want to say it. Instead of calling
God by the famous tetragrammaton, He is referred to as “Adonai” in the Bible.
Adonai is a Hebrew word meaning “My Lords.” Why the plural? for the same reason that people addressed a
king with “the majestic plural.” Actually, the term “lord” is ambiguous. It can
be used for any respected man. But both here and in other Gospel passages,
there is no doubt that it refers to God.
Now, close to Christmas, it is worth reviewing other terms
for Jesus in the Gospels. The name “Jesus” alone is full of meaning. Although
it was not a rare name in biblical times, it clearly indicates Jesus' mission
as the Son of God. “Jesus” means “God saves.” As God saved the Hebrew people
from Egyptian slavery, Jesus has come to save the world from its sins.
“Christ” also has a meaning related to Jesus' mission. It
comes from the Greek word that translates the Hebrew “messiah.” It means “the
anointed one.” In the Old Testament, those who were consecrated for a mission
designated by God were anointed: kings, priests, and especially prophets.
Because he was anointed for all these roles, Jesus has the mission of, no less
than, reconciling the world to God.
There is nothing extraordinary about being called “Son of
God” in the Old Testament. This expression is used for angels, the chosen
people, the children of Israel, and their kings. But this ambiguous sense is
not what Peter intends when he recognizes Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the
living God.” Rather, Peter wants to designate Jesus as the only Son of God who
has come into the world to free it from sin’s oppression. Jesus identifies
himself in this way when he says to Nicodemus: “‘For God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten Son…’”
There are other names for Jesus that reveal in part who he
is. Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah when he says that Jesus will be given the
name “Emmanuel” which means “God with us.” In the gospels Jesus regularly
refers to himself as “Son of Man.” This term is rooted in the apocalyptic
scenario of the prophet Daniel where God gives power over all nations to the
“Son of Man.” Jesus will say that he manifests the power received from his
Father in service, including his death, for the people. Finally, Jesus is
called in several places “the Word of God.” As words give expression to the
depth of the person, Jesus reveals the love and will of his Father to the
world.
We could add another title for Jesus, well suited for this
time of year. He is the gift of God more beneficial than the sun. He lights our
way among rocks and reefs in the voyage of life. He provides the warmth of love
that enables us to attain eternal life. Let us accept and take advantage of
this gift.
