Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:4,8-16
New Testament: Romans 4:13-18
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:1-4, 26-29
from 2 Samuel 7:4,8-16
I’m always a little curious when things “fall into place” or “happen for a reason.” Such was the case in my options for this Lenten meditation. March 19 is the Feast of Saint Joseph, husband to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus’ legal father. For me, both the reading I chose, and the namesake of the feast also, have special meaning to me.
My father’s “christened” name, when he was baptized in the Catholic church was Joseph. Joseph, the Saint, was a carpenter. My father was a carpenter and a brick mason. He loved working with his hands, beginning a project and seeing it through to the end. Though he did his best to instill that in me, I don’t know if I’ve lived up to his standards, yet. He was very much a man of his word; was caring and tender, but hard when he needed to be. I came into the world late in his life, and some say that I was the reason he lived as long as he did. He fulfilled his four score and then some. His life was full with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; some never knew him, but, know him through the many, many stories of his duty as a father, husband, and neighbor. His main goal was to take care of his family and to make sure all were fed, clothed, and never went without.
In this passage, God, through David, is taking care of the people of Israel. Of course David is full of questions because he’s concerned about his people. God tells David that he will “appoint a place for my people Israel” and “I will give you rest.” The people of Israel had been through wars, famine, disease and David wanted to make sure that God fulfilled his promise, which is what this passage is saying. God reaffirms to David that all will be well and that David can rest when his job is over.
How reassuring it must have been to David, knowing that he was being taken care of while he was taking care of others. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season we sometimes run ourselves ragged with shopping and parties and church and all of the things that go with the daily stresses of the season. Then, we come to Lent and all is black and quiet and plain — for 40 days. We turn inward, we meditate, we pray, we contemplate who we are and how we can let Christ into our lives, and then what we can do to bring Christ to everyone else. That is the love of Christ.
My father, like David, wanted to make sure that we were all taken care of and he spent the better part of his life constantly worrying about all of his offspring, no matter the age. He, like David, took his rest and worried no more.
Let us this Lenten season learn to be like David and learn to depend on and trust in Christ for our “rest.”
Bernard Hufft
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