What would our lives, and the world, look like if all of humanity had the faith of King David and Joseph, husband of Mary? Both were just men, sinners at that. Yet, both were great instruments for God. Their surrender to God paved the way for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. We too can participate in the great plan God has for humanity. We, like both King David and Joseph, can be Godly instruments used for the world peace God desires for his children.
In today’s first reading, 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16, we witness God, through the prophet Nathan, promising David he will raise up his heir, a royal heir destined to be God’s son and this kingdom shall endure forever. Of course, we know this is the foretelling of our one true King – Jesus Christ. However, how can this be? After all, King David’s life reads like a great Epic, complete with battle, defeat, triumph, jealousy, adultery, betrayal, love, marriage, murder, redemption and revenge! Kind David was as much a man of conviction and integrity as he was a warrior and man of the world. He was tested throughout his life and he most certainly did fall short of spiritual perfection. However, what David held at his core was a heart for God. It is here where he kept returning.
King David was both a king and a prophet, his words are recorded in many of our Psalms. It was his faith in God that made him great. The gifts of leadership, strength, and drive – not to mention his handsome appearance were all gifts God gave him. It was David who chose to use them for God. Not only did God bless David’s lineage, of which Joseph and Mary are both included, he blessed his son, Solomon who would become a great King as well, known for his great riches and love of God.
Then our Gospel, Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 a, we witness the faith of Joseph when confronted with Mary’s pregnancy. Being a righteous man he did not want to bring shame upon Mary, the young women whom he obviously loved very tenderly. At the instruction of the “angel of the Lord” Joseph immediately surrendered all he had and offered it to God. He took Mary into his home and committed his life to this meek tender woman and her child. The gentle carpenter offered his life in service to God and God’s plan for humanity. It was Joseph and Mary’s “yes” to God that fulfilled what was promised to King David all those years ago, true royalty would enter the world through his lineage.
The humbleness of Joseph and meekness of Mary seem to contrast the worldly power and greatness of King David, yet the service to God that all three shared was required for our King, Jesus Christ to enter into humanity. So I ask you to visualize for a moment what the world would look like if all of humanity surrendered their gifts back to God for him to use as he wills, just as King David, Joseph and Mary did………………………………………………………………. Pure beauty, peace on earth my friends.
So, let us be like our fellow sinners King David and Joseph who turned their hearts to God, then let us strive to be sinless like Mary, mother of Jesus. We can facilitate peace in the world when we but only allow God to work through us. Just as God loved David, Joseph and Mary he loves us. Just as the Prince of Peace came as a result of their yes to God, peace the world yearns for can come as a result of our yes. However, God needs our yes. He needs for us to return the gifts he gave us back to himself. Let us return our collective gifts of strength, determination, intellect, compassion, meekness, and humbleness back to God for him do with them as he wills. One of my favorite prayers that I use to help in my surrendering all back to God is from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, I have it on my bathroom mirror and I pray it daily. I invite you to join me in this prayer. Together let us be instruments of peace.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
– St. Ignatius of Loyola
Jesus – I love you!
