In our readings today we have the tale of three kings, and I am not talking about the Magi. These three kings are at the beginning the middle and the end of the Biblical story, Adam David and Jesus. These three kings are the key to understanding the whole Bible.
1. We read in the first book of the Bible; Genesis” God created Adam in his own image. Adam was given a kingly mission to rule and to govern. He was to be a steward of the whole world. Adam was made in the image of God and God is love, so this stewardship is meant to be a stewardship of love. Adam was humanity at its best and his mission was to turn the whole world in a Garden of Eden, this beautiful place of harmony, sustenance and life, humanity’s mission was to turn to whole world into a garden of Eden, to allow Gods way and rule to govern this world. Adam failed and by falling into sin he and consequently humanity turned this world into a place of violence, corruption hatred and fear; the world was anything but a garden of Eden.
2. God does not give up; he formed a rescue operation, he established a chosen people, Israel to be a kingly people, through whom the world will become a Garden of Eden. Israel – the chosen people – failed and after many centuries God promised them a particular king, David. This new Adam would govern this people and turn this world into a Garden of Eden. God has found his King; Eden has been re-established. Like Adam, David failed. David’s kingly line lasted 400 years and in 587 BC we have this traumatic moment for the chosen people, the deportation to Babylonia. Their country and their temple destroyed. Chaos, warfare, and injustice return. God’s reign no longer rules.
3. Flash forward 500 years, Israel does not have a King, many people may have thought the promise made to David would not come true. Israel is now dominated by the Romans, and the promise of God is only a dream. God put his power and might to one side and sent an angle to humbly ask a young girl in a little unknown town of Nazareth – our gospel today. This young girl was from the house of David (the promise of God). We thought that Gods promise would not be fulfilled. A new King will be born, a new David, a new Adam. This child will finally bring Gods order to the whole world; he would restore the Garden of Eden. Next Friday on Christmas day we will hear how this child will be set up as a rival to the great Emperor Augustus. He will become our good samaritan, our good shepherd. He wants us to help him in his great mission. The message of Christmas must not be buried in our hearts, we like the shepherds must bring this message of hope and joy to everyone we meet this chrismtas. Adam failed and was given to David (he failed); this mission is given to us. We who are in the world are meant to bring the reign of God, the reign of love, hope and joy to everyone we meet this Christmas. This is the challenge we receive on this final Sunday of Advent.