The Jesse Tree Series: A Shepherd for the people-Third Sunday of Advent

THE JESSE TREE SERIES:

What does Sunday of the Third week of Advent entail for our Jesse Tree:

 A SHEPHERD FOR THE PEOPLE 

SCRIPTURE:1 Sam 16:1-23, 17:56, 2 Sam 5:1-5, 7:17
Chapter 16: Samuel is sent to Bethlehem and God orders him to anoint the boy David, who is to be the heir of the promise made to the patriarchs. The spirit of the Lord descended and rested on David who became the type of the King-Messiah.
Chapter 17: When a Philistine defied the armies of Israel and threw out a challenge to single combat, David volunteered to take up the challenge. When we read this chapter, can we recognise a figure of the victory that Jesus Christ has won in the fight with the Adversary? 

2 Samuel 1-5: One of David's greatest feats is the capture of the ancient fortress of Zion, the city of Jerusalem.  The valiant kings make it his capital, the political and religious centre of his kingdom.  Jerusalem will take a privileged place in the future and the history of the Jewish people: it is the dwelling place of God and his anointed: it will become to personify the chosen people.  It will be the meeting place for the nations and it prepares the new Jerusalem.

2 Samuel: 7:1-17: David intended to build a temple for God.  The prophet Nathan, speaking on God's behalf, tells the king that it will not be David who build a temple for God, but God who will build a house/dynasty for David.  The promise concerns the permanence of the line of David on the throne of Israel.  The oracles transcend the person of the first successor of David and gives us an indication of a privileged descendant in whom God will be pleased.  The is the first link of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, the son of David.

THE PERSON: DAVID

David, is to be the heir of the promise made to the patriarchs.

THE EVENT/THEME: A SHEPHERD FOR THE PEOPLE
During our reflection time today, let us ponder on the theme of a shepherd for the people.

We may wish to

1.            Offer a prayer to Christ, our Good Shepherd who is our protector. 

2.            Rediscover the characteristics of sheep and shepherd and relate them to the constant image of Christ the Good Shepherd throughout scripture. These links may be food for thought.

3.            Make a practical commitment: As today's theme is a shepherd for the people, we may wish to:

o        Visit a farm to observe the sheep and find out more about the shepherd. This link may assist you.

o        Consider 

§          who are your sheep? 

§          what kind of shepherd are you?

§          what things might you do to become a better shepherd?

SYMBOL 15: SHEPHERDS CROOK OR HARP OR CROWN

Let us remember David, the youngest son of Jesse, the shepherd boy destined to become King.  His gift of music soothed the trouble soul of Saul. His story reminds us of God's providence in our lives, as we prepare our fifteenth symbol (fourteenth cut out symbol) and place it on the tree.