3rd Week of Advent, Monday – 18th December 2023 – Jeremiah 23,5-8; Mt 1,18-24
Righteous Branch
The first reading from the prophet Jeremiah portrays the Messiah as the one who will bring justice. Jeremiah speaks to the people at the time of Babylonian exile what God promises that He will send one who will be of the royal family of David. He is the offspring of Judah, of the royal lineage of David. He will bring salvation to His people and justice to the oppressed. He will be greater than the mighty Moses. Here the upright member is identified as ‘Branch’, which is used as a messianic title. This title is used elsewhere, Zerubbabel meaning ‘branch/shoot of Babylon’ was one of the leaders in the return of the Jews from exile. He was also a descendant of David. The promised Messiah, unlike any previous descendant of David, will be the ideal king. He will sum up in himself all the finest qualities of the best rulers. He will rule responsibly before God as a real king and not as a puppet like Zedekiah whose name signifies ‘the Lord is my justice’. Although Zedekiah did not live up to his name being righteousness, the new Lord of righteousness, the Messiah will bring many blessings to his people and will give them all that they need. He will be a true shepherd for his people, free from corruption found in so many of Judah’s rulers.
