The first readings for these beginning days of Advent are all taken from the Book of Isaiah. It is a complex book in many ways and it is one of the most cited books of the Old Testament by New Testament writers indicating the importance and esteem it holds in the scriptural imagination. You can read a short introduction to the book here.
Today the first reading is taken from Isaiah 2:1-5, whose opening is duplicated almost exactly in Micah 4:1–3. Like Isaiah, Micah was an eighth-century prophet of the southern kingdom. Both prophets held Mount Zion to be a sacred mountain, the center of the earth, and important for the whole world – the same sentiment expressed in Psalms 46–48.
In the course of reading Scriptures you will often encounter the terms “Mt. Zion”, “Jerusalem”, and the “City of David.” Are the terms identical? Are they all actual locations? Do they carry symbolic meaning? Perhaps it is good to offer a brief post on what this all means.
Originally, Mount Zion referred specifically to the Jebusite fortress that King David conquered and made his capital (2 Samuel 5:7): “But David did capture the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David.” The City of David is located south of what in our day is referred to as the “Old City” of Jerusalem, in a ridge area. The term “City of David” is often synonymous with the earliest settlement of what became Jerusalem.
In his efforts to unify all the tribes on Israel into one nation, David relocated the Ark of the Covenant to Zion indicating that God’s presence among His people was not centered on Zion and in the City of David: “The Ark was brought into the City of David with great rejoicing.” (2 Samuel 6:12-19). While David offered to build the Lord a “house,” construction of the Temple fell to David’s son, Solomon. The Temple was built on Mount Moriah, a part of the broader Zion area (1 Kings 8:1).
Zion is repeatedly described as a place of refuge and a symbol of God’s kingship over Israel (Ps 2:6). Today’s first reading holds the prophetic promise that the Law and the Word of the Lord will come forth from Zion, promising the possibility of divine wisdom and peace. “From Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isa 2:3)
Zion is envisioned as the site of the Messiah’s reign, bringing justice and peace to all nations: “Rejoice heartily, daughter Zion… See, your king shall come to you.” (Zechariah 9:9) Zion is identified with the heavenly city, the ultimate destination of God’s faithful. In Revelation, the Lamb (Christ) stands victorious on Mount Zion with His redeemed people: “Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand.” (Rev 14:1)
There are several theological themes that are thus associated with Zion
God’s Presence: Zion represents God’s dwelling among His people, through the Ark, the Temple, and ultimately through Christ.
Redemption and Restoration: Zion is a symbol of hope, where God restores His people and fulfills His promises.
Eschatological Hope: The heavenly Zion is a vision of eternal communion with God. In the New Testament, associated with the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22)
Where does Jerusalem fit into all of this? It doesn’t “fit it” but rather surrounds it all. As the capital of Israel grew, it outgrew the City of David and expanded to encompass the ancient settlement and Mount Zion. Jerusalem then took on all the historical and theological significance from both the City of David and Mount Zion and then served as the central city in biblical history and prophecy.
On the previous Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent, we considered a passage taken from the stream of Luke’s discourse on the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the signs of the end, warnings about the coming persecutions, the Great Tribulation, and finally the gospel passage about the coming Son of Man (all from Luke 21). The text included: “People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:26-37). To our modern mind, a rather odd choice for the first Sunday of Advent. But then our modern minds think of Advent as the gateway to prepare for Christmas. And therein lies the problem. As explained previously, Advent begins in the shadow of the celebration of Christ as King of the Universe. Considering that, suddenly the reading for the first week of Advent makes sense – we are to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus, what the prophets called “the day of the Lord.” Continue reading →
“The days are coming…[when] Judah will be made safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.” Such was the promise of the prophet Jeremiah to the beleaguered people of the City of David under the ominous cloud of war and death – the power of the Egyptian King Neco to the south and the armies of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to the north and east. That was then. Where are the prophets now when Jerusalem is a divided city and the missiles of Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran have the City of David within their reach. Are the prophets now replaced by the anti-missile technology of the Iron Dome? The system promises to protect Israel, but it cannot promise to save Israel, to make Jerusalem safe and secure. Continue reading →
Advent is the liturgical season that precedes and prepares for Christmas. It is a season of hope and of longing, of joyful expectation and of peaceful preparation. Many symbols and traditions are associated with Advent, especially the Advent Wreath with its four colored candles (three purple and one pink), but also Advent calendars, special Advent music, food, processions, and other traditions that may vary from one culture or region to the next. Here are a few interesting things to know about Advent: Continue reading →
At the beginning of this commentary, we noted that it might seem odd to have an “end times” passage as the gospel for the first Sunday of Advent. But recall that while such readings are often associated with the second coming of Christ in the mind of modern readers, the Old Testament passages that speak of the “days of wrath” or “the day of the Lord” are pointing to the coming of the promised Messiah. And our gospel reminds us that in our liturgical cycle we too are preparing to celebrate the coming of the Messiah – even as we are reminded of the passing nature of this world and our lives. Continue reading →
This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the posts this week we have looked at the gospel in context and in detail. The reading ends with a final admonishment
34 “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the previous post we were considering the Lukan usage of the word “sign” – 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. Continue reading →
This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the two previous posts we placed the Sunday gospel in the context of the Advent Season and in Scripture. Today we can begin to consider some of the details.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”
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