Fulfillment of Jeremiah’s Dream and the Psalmist’s Prayer in Christ
December 18, 2024 - Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Matt 1:18-25
Jeremiah, Israel’s most tragic prophet, had a vision of a perfect leader, a "righteous shoot" who would bring unity and peace to God’s people. His life was spent lamenting Judah's failures in leadership and faithfulness. Yet within these laments, Jeremiah expressed a dream of a true leader who would gather and care for God’s flock with justice and righteousness (Jer 23:1-8). He foresaw a ruler from David’s line who would bring not only security but also a unification of Israel’s lost tribes, a leader who would initiate a new, far-reaching Exodus.
In the Psalms, another plea was raised for this ideal leader. Psalm 72 is a prayer for a king who would make justice and peace flourish across the land, one who would govern with wisdom, understanding, and compassion for the poor. The psalmist’s desire was for a ruler whose reign would extend "from sea to sea," bringing universal blessing and peace (Ps 72:8, 17). None of Israel’s earthly kings ever came close. Even David, celebrated as “a man after God’s own heart,” could not fulfill this role; his legacy was marked by violence, and Israel’s kingdom eventually crumbled. Only the Lord could bring forth the king envisioned by Jeremiah and the psalmist.
In Jesus Christ, these hopes are finally realized, yet in a way beyond what even Jeremiah or the psalmist could have imagined. Born not in a palace but in a stable, Jesus had no worldly power. He walked among ordinary people, defending the downtrodden, healing the sick, and forgiving sins. His kingdom was not of this world, and yet, he is "the King of kings and Lord of lords," possessing all authority over heaven and earth (Matt 28:18; Rev 19:16). Jesus embodies the justice and compassion sought by Jeremiah and the psalmist, ruling not through political might but through self-giving love that extends to all nations and peoples.
Isaiah’s prophecy of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son, Emmanuel, further strengthens this theme. When Isaiah first spoke of this mysterious child, neither King Ahaz nor even Isaiah likely grasped its true significance. Centuries later, Matthew’s Gospel reveals that the prophecy referred to Mary and Jesus (Is 7:14; Matt 1:23). Jesus is Emmanuel, "God with us," not as a distant ruler but as one who came to share in our human struggle and save us from our sins. The angel’s message to Joseph confirms that Jesus would do just that, addressing humanity’s deepest need: liberation from the bondage of sin (Mt 1:21).
As Pope Benedict XVI observed, Jesus’ conception and resurrection represent direct interventions of God in human history, ushering in a new creation. Christ’s virgin birth and resurrection affirm this divine power, grounding our faith in a reality beyond earthly kingship. Just as the psalmist prayed that the ideal king’s reign would be “eternal,” so we now proclaim Jesus as the one whose name endures forever, blessing every nation and heart that calls upon it.
In this Advent season, we recognize in Jesus the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s dream and the psalmist’s prayer. He is the awaited leader who gathers the scattered, the just ruler who cares for the afflicted, and the divine Emmanuel who reigns forever, bringing peace, justice, and salvation to all who place their trust in him.