JESUS, ADONAI AND RULER OF ISRAEL


18 DECEMBER

Jer 25:5-8; Ps 72:1-2,12-13,18-19; Mt 1:18-24

Jesus, Adonai and Leader of Israel

The name Adonai is used in Hebrew or Judaism in place of the unpronounceable name Yahweh or “YHWH” in its tetragrammaton. It means 'Lord,' 'Master,' or 'Ruler of all things.' It also means Creator of all things. Here, we see that the fact is added that the Eternal Word of God is also the Leader of Israel. By addressing Jesus Christ, the One who is to come as Adonai, the Church recognises the equality of God with His Eternal Word, His Begotten Son. He is God from God, and Light from Light. He is begotten of the Father, and through him all things were made. Hence, he is also the Creator of all things in his own right. As the maker of all things, they all owe their existence and allegiance to him. In this sense, every creature has obediential potency to the Word of God; owing their nature to him, they are also eager to fulfil his will in anything, and anytime the Eternal Word expresses it. As the Adonai, the Lord and Master of the whole creation, he rules all things by his divine authority and orders all to their proper end in praise of God the Father. The same way he disposes all things to the praise and glory of God the Father, he also rules and governs Israel, as the people of God, to the fulfilment of their role in the salvation economy of God.

By the revelation of His Word, God the Father entrusted the whole creation to the Lordship of the Eternal Word at creation. In the same way, He entrusted the people of Israel to His Word at the call of Abraham. By revealing his word to Abraham and his children, he made the Eternal Word to be their ruler, to govern and guide them in the fulfilment of their role in the salvific plan of God for the whole world. Abraham’s faithfulness to the word of God made him a typical citizen of the City of God to be founded and ruled by the Eternal Word. The Lordship or Kingship of the word of God only materialised at the institution of kingship in Israel. David’s faithfulness to the word of God made him a typical king of Israel, modelled in the image of the true King of Israel or the heavenly City of God. Jeremiah prophesied of the coming of the true ruler of Israel. “See, the days are coming—it is the Lord who speaks—when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practising honesty and integrity in the land.” The true King is the one to build the real House of God or the City of God.

The true king will rule the whole world in justice, for by his sacrificial death, he will redeem us from our slavery to sin and evil, which was a result of our injustice or disobedience to the word of God. By revealing the Father to us, he will bring us to obey the precept of love of God. He will bring us to be just in our minds, hearts, and wills. Through the fire of love that he will enkindle in our hearts, he will banish injustice from among those who believe in his name, who constitute the City of God. As the Psalmist foretold: “In his days justice shall flourish, and peace until the moon fails.” The Gospel tells us of the conception of the Adonai through the unction of the fire of the Holy Spirit. “This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” The message of the angel to Joseph confirms that the child is the virtuous branch of David. “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Adonai and Ruler of Israel of God. He became man like us specifically to save us from our sins and restore us to his just and peaceful kingdom of heaven. May his coming as man destroy the reign of sin and evil in our lives, homes, and world.

O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.

Let us pray: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who are weighed down from of old by slavery beneath the yoke of sin, may be set free by the newness of the long-awaited Nativity of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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