Philippians 2:5-11; Micah 5:2-5a
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Though Advent and Lent are both penitential seasons, they are significantly different in terms of their spirit and mood. Throughout Lent the faithful prepare for the annual commemoration of Jesus’ sacrificial death upon the cross for the sins of the world. Such preparation includes intensive reflection upon our sins in the light of God’s righteousness, and repentance in faith and hope in God’s mercy and forgiveness poured out in Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection. In contrast, while we also reflect upon our sins and repent throughout Advent, our preparation for the annual celebration of Jesus’ birth is marked rather by a spirit of humility and lowliness inspired by the gentleness and unexpected nature of Jesus’ first coming, instilling in the faithful hope for peace with God.
For, the King of Nations was not born in a palace in Jerusalem, but he was laid in a manger in lowly Bethlehem. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” In the first century, Bethlehem was a small village approximately six miles southwest of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judea. Bethlehem, which means house of bread, was originally called Ephrathah, which means fruitful, and has a long and varied significance throughout the Scriptures and the history of Israel. Bethlehem was the burial place of Rachel, the favorite of Jacob’s two wives and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Bethlehem was also the home of Naomi and Ruth and her kinsman-redeemer and husband Boaz. Ruth and Boaz became the parents of Obed, the father of Jesse, and the grandfather of King David, all of whom lived in Bethlehem. Thus, Bethlehem became known as The City of David and David’s Royal City. It was because both Joseph and Mary were descended from David that they traveled to Bethlehem to register for a census ordered by Caesar Augustus, and there Mary gave birth to her firstborn son Jesus.
To think that such an unassuming, lowly, and humble village as Bethlehem should factor so prominently in the history of Israel and in salvation history is, well, simply the way the LORD often works. What men would scarcely consider, but rather ignore and despise, God has utilized to accomplish His glorious work. “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
When God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the king of Israel, Jesse paraded seven of his strong, tall, and mighty sons before the prophet, but the LORD had chosen none of them. Jesse hadn’t even bothered to call in David, the shepherd boy. Samuel insisted that they would not proceed until the boy had been presented. When David appeared, the Holy Spirit rushed upon him and the LORD told Samuel, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Perhaps, because David was a shepherd who was overlooked by his father and brothers because of the lowliness of his estate, the angels proclaimed Jesus’ birth first to shepherds in Bethlehem watching over their flocks by night. “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, …. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
After Jesus’ birth, wise men from the east traveled to Jerusalem to worship the newborn King of the Jews. Though they followed a star to Judea, at first, they seem to have believed that the King of the Jews would be born in a palace, in the capital city Jerusalem. There they found King Herod who was troubled at their report of a newborn king. After having ascertained from his scribes as to where this prophesied king was to be born Herod sent the wise men off to Bethlehem on the promise that they would return to him when they had located the child so that he too could come and worship him. Though the Word of the LORD had prophetically proclaimed the location of Messiah’s birth, men having not ears to hear the Word of the LORD nor eyes to see its fulfillment looked in places that appeared more glorious in their own sight. However, when the wise men left Herod, they saw the star once again and they followed it to where the child was. There they found Joseph and Mary and the infant Jesus lying in a lowly manger in lowly Bethlehem Ephrathah, David’s Royal City. The Bread of Life born in the house of bread, the Tree of Life bearing life-giving fruit for all who will receive him.
The child born in Bethlehem was no mere mortal man, but he was God himself, “whose coming is from of old, from ancient days.” The promise of his reign extends past King David, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all the way back to and before our first parents Adam and Eve in the garden. The two genealogies of Jesus presented in Matthew and Luke establish Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Abraham and to Adam and Eve respectively.
God always keeps his promises, but often in remarkable and unexpected ways. Bethlehem was a small village and the clans of Judah who dwelt in the region of Ephrathah were of little significance. Yet God chose this insignificant place and people to bring forth his greatest act of redemption, the birth of his Son. However, not only was Jesus born in humble and unexpected ways, but he also lived and died and accomplished our redemption in humble and unexpected ways. As St. Paul confessed, though he was in the form of God, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And you his people are called to live in the same manner as your Lord and Savior, in humility and lowliness in selfless and sacrificial love and mercy towards others as we continually and abundantly receive these from our God and LORD in Jesus Christ. Jesus shepherds his flock in the strength of the LORD. We dwell secure, in the midst of our enemies, and at peace. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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