FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YR C
Micah 5:2-4; Ps 80;
Heb. 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
BUT YOU BETHLEHEM EPHRATHAH
We are gradually coming to the end of the Advent season as we mark the fourth Sunday of Advent. As we make progress through the season, it is important to ask how well we have prepared for the coming of the Lord and the celebration of the Love of the Father.
Today, the first reading presents us with a prophecy from Micah about a king who will come and save God’s people. Micah lived at the same time as Isaiah and Hosea. He decried the exploitation of the helpless, dishonesty in business and the fraud of religion. He denounces the rulers, priests and the prophets who have allowed this to happen. For these reasons, Samaria and Jerusalem were to face punishment before the Lord restores them. This restoration will happen when the Messiah King comes in fulfilment of the promise the Lord had made.
The reading began by naming the place of the birth of the King. It says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah…” (Micah 5:2) Ephrathah is used in many other passages in the Old Testament to refer also to Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19). More importantly, it is related to David. It was the hometown of David. 1 Samuel 17:12 noted, “Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old.” This choice is probably in fulfilment of God’s promise he made long ago to the house of David.
This is important because it tells us that God never goes back on his word. When he makes a promise, He never fails. He fulfils it. We read in Ezekiel 12:25, “For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged…”. When the time is right the Lord will do it for you. Whatever you have been believing God for do not give up because he is not done with you yet. It shall come to pass.
Historically, when David was king, the whole of Israel was united as one. If the Messianic King will come from Bethlehem, it will not only be a fulfilment of the promise of God but it will also be an era of unity and peace. This new ruler will bring unity where there is division and strife. Jesus comes to heal all broken relationships between humanity and God and among the peoples of the world.
Do you feel estranged from God for one reason or another? Is it because of your weakness towards sin or your lack of faith? The promised ruler, Jesus, comes to heal that brokenness. He comes also to bring unity among people. In this unity, peace is born in the hearts of all people.
Bethlehem means house of bread while Ephrathah means fruitful. The combination of these two words is a play on words by the prophet. The ruler is one who provides for the needs of his people. If he comes from “the house of bread”, then providing for the people will not be a problem. When we go back into the scriptures to read the story of Ruth, which is set in Bethlehem, Naomi returns with her daughter-in-law, a Moabite, who is allowed to gather some food from the fields. She later was married to Boaz and accepted into the family. Bethlehem then becomes a place where everyone is accepted and cared for. The Ruler to come will care for all people especially the poor, weak, foreigner and widow. (Ps 72:4).
The king will be fruitful or successful in all his endeavours (Ephrathah). In his work of providing for the people, he will be successful. In his work to bring God’s salvation to his people, he will be fruitful. What are your needs today? Jesus will provide for you.
From the text, we see also the contrast between the littleness of Bethlehem and the greatness of the king to come from her. Bethlehem is so little and insignificant that it almost could not have been considered a proper clan of Judah. And if there was a search for a king among the clans of Judah, Bethlehem was too little, too small to be considered. But there will come a king whose reign is eternal, who will stand firm in the strength of the Lord and his greatness will reach the ends of the world. No matter how small you are, God knows how to bring greatness out of you. There is something about littleness and humility that attracts Divinity. Let us learn to be always humble in order to attract divine greatness.
I do not know what you are going through right now, but what I know is that God will provide a king provider and a place of comfort for you in Jesus. Do not be afraid or distracted. Come to him now.
God bless you.
BY Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
