Let The LORD Enter; HE Is The King Of Glory

 "The earth and its fulness belong to YAHWEH,

the world and all that dwell in it.

HE has founded it upon the ocean

and set it firmly upon the waters.

Who will ascend the mountain of YAHWEH?

Who will stand in HIS holy place?

Those with clean hands and pure heart, 

who desire not what is vain,

and never swear to a lie.

They will receive blessings from YAHWEH,

a reward from GOD, their savior.

Such are the people who seek HIM,

who seek the face of Jacob's GOD.

Lift up, O gateways, your lintels,

open up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may enter!

Who is the King of glory?

YAHWEH, the strong, the mighty,

YAHWEH, valiant in battle.

Lift up your lintels, O gateways,

open up, your ancient doors,

that the King of glory may enter!

Who is the King of glory?

YAHWEH of Hosts, 

HE is the King of glory!"

- Psalm 24:2-10

('Heavens cannot contain you!' said Solomon, 'How much less this house that I have built!  [2 Chronicles 6:18].  And yet, the King of Glory passed through the gates of a Temple, where Israel's pilgrims 'sought HIS face.'  This psalm shares the astonishment of Solomon:  'Will GOD really live with men and women on the earth?'  For us that wonder is surpassed.  We have seen the Son of GOD pass through the gate of our nature and heard HIM speak 'of the temple of HIS body' [John 2:21].  And this is not all Mystically assumed into that body, our own selves become temples too--but we must throw open the gates of a generous heart:  'If anyone loves ME, MY FATHER will love him; and we will come to HIM' [John 14:23].  We think of this as we sing:  'Let HIM enter, the King of Glory!'  'Come, LORD JESUS' [Revelation 22:20].)

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HE HIMSELF Shall Be Peace

 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, named among the clans of Judah; from you shall I raise the one who is to rule over Israel.  For HE comes forth from of old, from the ancient times.

YAHWEH, therefore, will abandon Israel until such time as she, who is to give birth, has given birth.  Then the rest of HIS deported brothers will return to the people of Israel.

HE will stand, and shepherd HIS flock with the strength of YAHWEH, in the glorious Name of YAHWEH, HIS GOD.  They will live safely, while HE wins renown to the ends of the earth.  HE shall be peace." - Micah 5:1-4 

(But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, from you shall I raise the one who is to rule over Israel.  That is to say, that the Messiah will come from the line of David whose roots are in Bethlehem.  It is not clear if the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem, in spite of the fact that Micah seems to contrast this peaceful king, born in a rural area, with the useless kings of the capital.  Later, many believed that the Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem:  see John 7:42.  Matthew's Gospel shows how this prophecy was fulfilled with the birth of JESUS [Matthew 2:6].)

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The Future Davidic King

 "YAHWEH further says, 'The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David's righteous successor.  HE will rule wisely and govern with justice and righteousness.  That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety.  HE will be called YAHWEH-our-justice.'

'The days are coming,' says YAHWEH, 'when people shall no longer swear by YAHWEH as the living GOD who freed the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.  Rather, they will swear by YAHWEH as the living GOD who restored the descendants of Israel from the northern empire and from all the lands where HE had driven them, to live again in their own land.'" - Jeremiah 23:5-8

(GOD promises lasting peace.  The new people of GOD will be more than a mere continuation of the old kingdom of Israel, and the new king will be more than the earthly kings [see how JESUS develops this point in John 10]. 

Humankind hopes for unity in peace, and the Church now must offer the witness of different people gathered in CHRIST.  The reality, however, will be achieved only in the heavenly Jerusalem [Revelation 21:22].)

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The Promise Of Judah

 "Gather around, sons of Jacob.  And listen to your father Israel!

Judah, your brothers will praise you!

You shall seize your enemies by the neck!

Your father's sons shall bow before you.

Judah, a young lion!

You return from the prey, my son!

Like a lion he stoops and crouches,

and like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

The scepter shall not be taken from Judah,

nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,

until he comes to whom it belongs, 

and who has the obedience of the nations." - Genesis 49:2. 8-10 

(Jacob's blessings do not go to his sons but to the twelve tribes bearing their names.  The future destiny of these tribes will vary greatly.  Jacob's blessing is a way of saying that these destinies were known to GOD beforehand and that they were part of HIS plan of salvation which benefits everyone, but does not give the same gift to everyone.

The two tribes of Judah and Joseph dominate.  This ancient prophecy seems to say that Judah would live apart from others until the coming of "the one the people would obey."  This text, however, is not clear in the original manuscripts.  Did they wish only to celebrate the coming of king David, or was it the announcement of a great destiny for the kingdom of Judah, or was it the expectation of a savior-king?  Actually the kings of the people of GOD and JESUS after them were to come from this tribe.  Judah here is considered as the heir of the promises made to Abraham and Jacob.)

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John Was A Shining Lamp

 "John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to HIM, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.

John was a burning and shining lamp and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light.  But I have greater evidence than that of John--the works which the FATHER entrusted to ME TO carry out.  The very works I do bear witness:  the FATHER  has sent ME." - John 5:33-36

(To gain a direction in life, we need some understanding of the world and humankind.  This understanding may come through reason and science, but more often we are influenced and guided by the testimony of others--by their words, attitudes and personal qualities.

It is thus those in love discover one another, friends accept each other, a career is decided upon, a religious or political commitment is made.  It is also thus that the word of GOD is discovered.  Therefore, JESUS speaks of the testimonies that accredit HIM:

- HIS works, that is, HIS miracles.

- John the Baptist's testimony in pointing HIM out as the Savior.

- the words of the Scriptures that refer to HIM.)

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John's Messengers

 "John's disciples informed him about all these things.  So John called two of his disciples  and sent them to the LORD with this message, 'Are you the one we are expecting or should we wait for another?'  These men came to JESUS and said, 'John the Baptist sent us to ask YOU:  Are YOU the one we are to expect, or should we wait for another?'

At that time, JESUS healed many people of their sicknesses and diseases; HE freed them from evil spirits and HE gave sight to the blind.  Then HE answered the messengers, 'Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard:  the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor are given good news.  Now, listen:  Fortunate are those who meet ME, and are not offended by ME.'" - John 7:18-23

(JESUS and John the Baptist.  The situation has been reversed.  John appeared as a great prophet, while JESUS began preaching in John's wake but without the same impact [3:18-20].  Now John is in prison and JESUS would take his place.  It might be more accurate to interpret his question as a pressing invitation:  "If YOU are the one who is to come, why so much delay?"

John's disciples did witness the cures, but the cures are not everything and JESUS adds:  the poor hear good news because evangelization restores hope and leaves people renewed.

The blind see, the lame walk...  The prophets foretold these signs [Isaiah 35:5] that were really something new, because in the past GOD usually manifested HIMSELF as a powerful savior.  These healings pointed to the liberation that JESUS was bringing:  not punishment of sinners [which was a great part of John the Baptist's preaching] but, before all else, reconciliation suited to healing a world of sinners, of violent and resentful people.

Fortunate are those who meet ME, and are not offended by ME.  And fortunate are those who do not doubt CHRIST's salvation after seeing the fruits of evangelization.  Fortunate are those who do not say:  this way is too slow.  The Gospel shows its richness in giving life to people, in restoring hope to those who have experienced weakness and sin.  It is necessary to have seen and understood that this is most important.

It does not matter if the world seems to continue to surrender to the forces of evil.  The presence of liberated people compels others to define themselves in terms of good and evil and this makes the world grow.

With this, JESUS answers the disciples of John, men who are self-sacrificing and concerned for the triumph of GOD's cause.  Perhaps they are so absorbed in their search for justice that they fail to recognize GOD's powerful working in JESUS' actions, which appeared so gentle and mild.)

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The Parable Of The Two Sons

 "JESUS went on to say, 'What do you think of this?  A man had two sons.  He went to the first and said to him, 'Son, go and work today in my vineyard.'  And the son answered, 'I don't want to.'  But later he thought better of it and went.  Then the father went to his other son and said the same thing to him.  This son replied, 'I will go, sir,' but he did not go.

Which of the two did what the father wanted?'  They answered, 'The first.'  And JESUS said to them, 'Truly, I say to you: the publicans and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven.  For John came, to show you the way of goodness, and you did not believe him; but the publicans and the prostitutes did.  You were witnesses of this, but you neither repented nor believed him." - Matthew 21:28-32

 

(This parable refers to the refusal of the chief priests to recognize John the Baptist as a messenger of GOD.

A good number of sinners were converted by John's preaching and confessed their sins.  Such people were well disposed to receive the message of JESUS that opened for them the kingdom of GOD and showed them the true face of GOD the FATHER.  Because of that, they were ahead of the priests, who were indifferent to John's call, for they felt neither the desire nor the need to change.

Every parish that carries out a mission experiences the same thing: many uncommitted Christians will neither work as missionaries, nor receive them, believing they do not need conversion.)

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JESUS' Authority

 "JESUS had entered the temple and was teaching, when the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the Jewish authorities came to HIM, and asked, 'What authority have YOU to act like this?  Who gave YOU authority to do all this?'

JESUS answered them, 'I will also ask you one question.  If you answer ME, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.'  Where did John's baptism come from?  From heaven or from people?'

They discussed this among themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' HE will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'  And if we say, 'The baptism of John was merely something human', we've got to beware of the people, for all consider John to be a prophet.'  So they answered JESUS, 'We do not know.'

And JESUS said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'" - Matthew 21:23-27

 

(JESUS is what we would call today a simple layman.  HE respects the priests of the people of GOD and their high priest.  HE shows however that if they want others to be accountable, for their part they must be ready to take a stand on the things of GOD when the people need this.  They had been and were unwilling to give such a response in the case of John the Baptist.)

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Shout For Joy, Daughter Of Zion!

 "Cry out with joy, O daughter of Zion; rejoice, O people of Israel!  Sing joyfully with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!

YAHWEH has lifted your sentence and has driven your enemies away.  YAHWEH, the King of Israel is with you; do not fear any misfortune.

On that day, they will say to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid nor let your hands tremble, for YAHWEH your GOD is within you, YAHWEH, saving warrior.  HE will jump for joy on seeing you, for HE has revived HIS love.  For you HE will cry out with joy, as you do in the days of the feast.

I will drive away the evil I warned you about, and you will no longer be shamed." - Zephaniah 3:14-18

 

(Cry out with joy, O daughter of Zion; YAHWEH, the King of Israel, is with you; do not fear any misfortune.  In the Gospel of Luke, the same words are addressed to Mary at the Annunciation: "Rejoice, the LORD is with you.  Do not fear, Mary, you will bear the Savior" [Luke 1:28].)

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Elijah Has Already Come

 "And as they came down the mountain, JESUS commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

The disciples asked HIM, 'Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?'  JESUS answered, 'So it is: first comes Elijah; and he will restore all things.  But I tell you, Elijah has already come; and they did not recognize him; and they treated him as they pleased.  And they will also make the Son of Man suffer.'

Then the disciples understood that JESUS was referring to John the Baptist." - Matthew 17:9-13

(On going down the mountain, the apostles feel uneasy, "Why did Moses and Elijah speak of the imminent death of JESUS?"  They cling to their illusions, finding support in the Scriptures which said that Elijah had to return to earth to prepare the way before the Messiah would come, so that HE should not encounter any opposition [Malachi 3:1 and 4:23].

JESUS asserts again what HE had said many times: HE has to be rejected.  Not all that is written in Scripture is to be understood literally.  Elijah was not to return personally from heaven, but rather John the Baptist had already come as the new Elijah [Luke 1:16].)

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GOD Leads Us

 "Thus says YAHWEH, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, YAHWEH, your GOD, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.

Had you paid attention to MY commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Your descendants would have been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from MY presence." - Isaiah 48:17-19

 

(In these verses the prophet looks at Israel's past, reminding us of what we read about the lost Paradise.  If they had obeyed, GOD's desire to lavish HIS blessings upon them would have been fulfilled, as well as GOD's promises to Abraham.

But GOD intervene again as the Redeemer of HIS people.)

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In Praise Of John The Baptist

 "I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has arisen from among the sons of women; and yet, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is something to be conquered; and violent men seize it.

Up to the time of John, there was only prophesy: all the prophets and the law.  And if you believe ME, John is indeed that Elijah, whose coming was predicted.  Let anyone with ears listen!" - Matthew 11:11-15

 

(No one greater than John the Baptist has arisen.  This verse refers to a prophet or to a political leader.

The kingdom of heaven is something to be conquered.  This sentence could also be translated: "The kingdom of heaven is advancing forcefully."  The kingdom of GOD is the moving force that makes history progress, taking advantage of both gentle and violent changes in human life.  The believers are called to participate actively in this constant transformation.  Death and resurrection are at work among us and all over the world.)

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Orchestra Of Praise To GOD, King Of The World

 "Sing to YAHWEH a new song, for HE has done wonders; HIS right hand, HIS holy arm, has won victory for HIM.

YAHWEH has shown HIS salvation, revealing HIS justice to the nations.

HE has not forgotten HIS love, nor HIS faithfulness to Israel.  The farthest ends of the earth all have seen GOD 's saving power.

All you, lands, make a joyful noise to YAHWEH, break into song and sing praise, with melody of the lyre and with music of the harp.

With trumpet blast and sound of the horn, rejoice before the King, YAHWEH!

Let the sea resound and everything in it, the world and all its people.

Let rivers clap their hands, hills and mountains sing with joy before YAHWEH, for HE comes to rule the earth.  HE will judge the world with justice, and the peoples, with fairness."

- Psalm 98:1-9

(Our LORD founded the kingdom of GOD on earth;  and yet we pray: 'YOUR kingdom come.'  The work of our redemption has been accomplished, but we still pray for this salvation, to be perfected throughout the world: GOD has come; but we look for HIS final coming, to take possession of HIS kingdom.

Sing to the LORD a new song.  Humanity has found the way to liberation and salvation.  It is in the coming of CHRIST, GOD-made-man and in HIS resurrection.

For the LORD came down to earth, showed us HIS love and also by HIS death and resurrection, the path to eternal salvation.)

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In Search Of The Stray

 "What do you think of this?  If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one?  And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it, than about the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  It is the same with your FATHER in heaven.  Your FATHER in heaven doesn't want even one of these little ones to perish." - Matthew 18:12-14

 

(The parable of the one hundred sheep is also found in the Gospel of Luke [15:1].  It teaches us several things: JESUS' special concern for sinners and those who stray and, therefore, the missionary dimension of HIS apostolate.  In fact, JESUS came "to seek and save the lost" [Luke 19:10], "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" [Matthew 9:13].  This attitude should impel our parishes and Christian communities to constantly reach out to the unchurched and marginalized, instead of just working with those who already are in touch with the Church.)

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We Have Seen Incredible Things

 "One day, JESUS was teaching, and many Pharisees and teachers of the law had come from every part of Galilee and Judea, and even from Jerusalem.  They were sitting there, while the power of the LORD was at work to heal the sick.  Then some men brought a paralyzed man who lay on his mat.  They tried to enter the house to place him before JESUS, but they couldn't find a way through the crowd.  So they went up on the roof, and, removing the tiles, they lowered him on his mat into the middle of the crowd, in front of JESUS.

When JESUS saw their faith, HE said to the man, 'MY friend, your sins are forgiven.'  At once the teachers of the law and the Pharisees began to wonder, 'This man insults GOD!  Who can forgive sins, but GOD alone?'

But JESUS knew their thoughts and asked them, 'Why are you reacting like this?  Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'?  Now you shall know, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.'  And JESUS said to the paralyzed man. 'Get up, take your mat and go home.'  At once, the man stood before them.  He took up the mat he had been lying on, and went home praising GOD.

Amazement seized the people and they praised GOD.  They were filled with a holy fear, and said, 'What wonderful things we have seen today!'" - Luke 5:17-26

(There were many Pharisees and teachers of the law.  The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were not against JESUS yet, but being men who had received much religious formation, they were the first to wonder about JESUS' religious claims: was HE only a faithful believer respectful of GOD's law or was HE promoting a new sect?  JESUS took advantage of their presence to show that HE was not simply a disciple of Moses and the prophets, but the master of them all.

We easily understand why the teachers of the law were scandalized.  How could this man without studies or title, stand up to them as if HE were a teacher?  They were looking for the coming of a GOD who would confirm their teaching and acknowledge their merits.  JESUS, however, was in the midst of common folk and did not pay attention to the authority of the masters of the law who looked down on them.  Since the teachers of the law could not believe, their only recourse was to oppose JESUS.)

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The Salvation Of GOD

 "It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberius: Pontius Pilatus was governor of Judea; Herod ruled over Galilee, his brother Philip ruled over the country of Iturea and Trachonitis; and Lysanias ruled over Abilene.  Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests at the time when the word of GOD came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert.

John proclaimed a baptism, for repentant people to obtain forgiveness of sins; and he went through the whole country bordering the Jordan River.  It was just as is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: Listen to this voice crying out in the desert, 'Prepare the way of the LORD, make HIS path straight!  The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made low.  Everything crooked will be made straight and the rough paths smooth; and every human being will see the salvation of GOD!'" - Luke 3:1-6

(Luke provides us with facts that enable us to situate JESUS in history.  It is the year 27after CHRIST and actually JESUS is about thirty to thirty-five years old.  The Jews have lost their autonomy, and their country is divided into four small provinces.  Herod and Philip, sons of the Herod mentioned at the birth of JESUS [see Matthew 2:1] rule over two of these provinces.

In the first two chapters Luke has shown us how the Son of GOD inserted HIMSELF into humanity.  As Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, HE was "born of a woman, subject to the law" [Galatians 4:7] which means that HE had to be formed by a culture, marked by HIS era, limited by the human context of HIS time.  We are now going to see that HE did not begin HIS mission in a grandiose way with prodigious miracles but very simply entered a movement initiated by another one, John the Baptist.

The first paragraph shows how the Holy Land was divided, a challenge to the promises of GOD.  In the case of several high priests there was contempt for the law of GOD, for the high priests should succeed each other, father to son, and remained in office all their lives.  In this degrading situation a new element would rock the people: the preaching of John the Baptist.

Listen to this voice crying out in the desert.  The text which follows is from Isaiah [40:3] John renews the tradition of the prophets after four centuries of interruption and like many among them, he speaks of an imminent judgment.  To confront the judgment of GOD is always most fearful and John speaks of rebuilding a sense of justice.  John speaks of the punishment to come.

John awakens the expectation of a savior.  It is easy for us to say that the savior was JESUS and that GOD's judgment would come a few years later with the war that destroyed the Jewish nation, but for those who were hearing John it was difficult to imagine what this savior might be.)

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"The Harvest Is Abundant, But The Workers Are Only Few."

 "JESUS went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom; and HE cured every sickness and disease.  When HE saw the crowds, HE was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then HE said to HIS disciples, 'The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few.  Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather HIS harvest.'" - Matthew 9:35-38

 

(With this paragraph that briefly summarizes the ministry of JESUS in Galilee, Matthew intends to show that indeed the kingdom of GOD is there: evil has been given a fatal blow.

HE was moved with pity, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  See Numbers 27:17; Ezekiel 34:5; Zechariah 10:3; John 4:35; Mark 6:34; and Luke 10:2.)

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JESUS Cures The Blind Men

 "As JESUS moved on from there, two blind men followed HIM, shouting, 'Son of David, help us!'  When HE was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with HIM; and JESUS said to them, 'Do you believe that I AM able to do what you want?'  They answered, 'Yes, sir!'

Then JESUS touched their eyes and said, 'As you have believed, so let it be.'  And their eyes were opened.  Then JESUS gave them a stern warning, 'Be careful that no one knows about this.'  But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about HIM through the whole area." - Matthew 9:27-31

 

(Two blind men followed HIM shouting.  In what manner, if they were blind?  Stumbling and being carried by others perhaps.  When you sin, shout to the LORD and keep on looking for CHRIST.)

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House On Rock

 "Not everyone who says to ME, 'LORD!  LORD!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of MY heavenly FATHER.

'Therefore, anyone who hears these words of MINE, and acts according to them, is like a wise man, who built his house on rock.  The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house.  But it did not collapse, because it was built on rock.  But anyone who hears these words of MINE, and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible collapse that was!'" - Matthew 7:21. 24-27

 

(Anyone who hears these words of mine.  JESUS means those who listen to HIS words and are converted: they believe themselves already saved.  If they do not use their initial enthusiasm to build their lives on solid foundations, such as scriptural meditation, generosity, resistance to evil inclinations, sharing in the Christian community--then everything will tumble down later.)

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