Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@matcfelipe?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Mateus Campos Felipe</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/king-david?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>
Advent Reflection: The Importance of King David
Each year during Advent, there is a reading of the genealogy of Jesus from the gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s genealogy starts with Abraham, which represents the beginning of the covenant, the promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.
The genealogy also starts the mission at the beginning of the Exodus, and the inclusion of David indicates the covenants of the Old Testament, of which Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment. Jesus is also seen as reliving the Exodus journey, receiving the persecution just as Moses, the rejection of “all Jerusalem” as was true of the prophets, and a foreshadowing of his death when Herod tries to kill him.
With the arrival of the Magi, later in the story, the expansion of the mission to the Gentiles is foreseen. And by the end, the identity of Jesus is revealed: Savior, Emmauel (God is with us) and ultimately the Son of God. Overall, the genealogy is the statement that from the beginning God’s plan would be fulfilled, and is in the arrival of His Son, Jesus.
Each day during the season of Advent, you will find an advent reflection from faculty and students at Christian Brothers College High School. To find all the reflections, go to our Advent Reflections page.
