2nd Sunday of Advent
(Cycle “C" – December 10, 2006)

Q. 401: Is the “litany” of people that St. Luke starts out with today (Lk 3:1-6) intended to place this story accurately within history?

A. 401:
St. Luke is a very skillful writer, and may I say, very “cunning.” What he is doing is “using history” to make a powerful point. Let’s take a closer look at what that point is.

This “litany” of names is all about power. It starts out identifying the superpower of the day, Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Next we see Pontius Pilate, a procurator (officer of the Empire and agent of the Emperor). Then come three tetrarchs, each one a governor of a section of the Province. Having named the big-wigs of temporal power, he now turns to the big-wigs of Jewish religious authority, naming both Annas and Caiaphas who hold the two highest positions in Judaism. The power structure is complete.

But what do we see God doing? This is where Luke’s genius comes into play. Luke sees clearly that it is not the emperors, governors, and high priests that God wants to speak through. Instead of using the power structure or political structure, he speaks His word to a simple, God-fearing, locust-eating desert man, who dressed in clothes made of camel’s hair (Mt 3:4)! This message was the most exciting message ever heard up to that point in time: the Messiah was coming, and all humankind would see the salvation of God!

God always chooses the lowly, the humble, those who are trying to do His will. Nowhere is this more evident than in the selection of John the Baptist to be the bearer of God’s word! This gives us great hope. It is not the exercise of power nor the holding of possessions that matters. The only thing that matters is the condition of our heart, which reflects our relationship with God.

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Two significant Advent values are Hope and Humility – and it can’t be coincidental that both are listed consecutively in the Glossary to the Catechism (p.882). Hope enables us to desire and expect eternal life with God (CCC #1817), as we humbly and trustingly await the return of the Lord Jesus in glory (CCC #840).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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