True Branch of David’s Line
First Sunday of Advent – Year C
Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (1b); 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Today, the Prophet Jeremiah, the Evangelist Luke, and the Apostle Paul all look to the future. What do they see? The fulfillment of God’s promise. For Jeremiah, it is the raising of "a just shoot" from David’s line (Jer. 33:15). For Luke and Paul, it is "the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones" (Luke 21:27; 1 Thess. 3:13). Yet, each of them viewed this promise from different times and circumstances.
Jeremiah lived through one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history (circa 647–585 BCE). The final kings of Israel were far from examples of justice and righteousness, and the kingdom of Judah faced imminent disaster. With the Babylonian invasion looming, Jerusalem was neither secure nor known as "The Lord our Justice" (Jer. 33:16). Instead, it was called "the city of brutality, bursting with violence" (Jer. 6:6, The Message).
What about the Evangelist Luke? Most scholars date the Gospel of Luke between 70–80 CE, though some suggest an earlier timeframe, possibly around 57–59 CE. During this period, Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 23:33-26:33), and it appears Luke spent time with him (Acts 27:1). The future looked bleak for early Christians. Soon, brutal persecutions would see thousands of believers fed to wild animals or burned alive to illuminate the streets of Rome.
As for the letter to the Thessalonians, it is likely the earliest New Testament writing, composed around 50 CE. Paul had founded the church in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) but was forced to leave due to intense opposition. From distant Corinth, he worried whether the fledgling community would stay faithful amidst persecution. Unable to visit them, Paul sent Timothy to bring news and followed up with his letter (1 Thess. 2:18-3:1).
The coming of the Son of Man has always been the Christian hope and prayer (see Rev. 22:20). During the Eucharist, we proclaim the mystery of faith: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." But how do we live in the meantime, as we await the fulfillment of God's promise? We lift our souls to God (Ps. 25:1), for He guides sinners and teaches the humble His way (Ps. 25:8-9). We strive to "please God" (1 Thess. 4:1), avoiding drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, so we may be prepared for the Day of the Lord (Luke 21:34).
Before the birth of Christ, the world lay in the winter of sin (Is. 9:1). Shepherds kept watch over their flocks at night (Luke 2:8), and Magi from the East searched the dark sky for the Star of the King (Matt. 2:2). Then, a shoot sprang from the stump of Jesse, bearing the fruit of salvation for the world (Is. 11:1; Luke 2:4-7). So it will be with the coming of the Son of Man. Preceded by cosmic upheavals, much like the manifestations of God seen in wind, earthquake, and fire (1 Kings 19:11-12), He will establish His eternal kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14). "But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand" (Luke 21:28).