ISRAEL SHALL DWELL IN SECURITY
3rd Day of Simbang Gabi(C)/ Misa de Gallo / Dawn Masses December 18, 2009 Readings: Jer 23: 5-8 / Mt 1:18-25 In keeping with the upbeat mood of the days immediately preceding Christmas, (and Simbang Gabi mood in the Philippines – and elsewhere!) the readings today again wax hopeful. They are full of promises of things to come. Such promises all revolved around the figure of the coming Messiah, couched in symbols that initially were vague, but clear enough for us in retrospect, as we navigate through the account that we now call salvation history. The promised One – what Isaiah earlier this week referred to as the “Just One” – was to come from the house of Judah. He is called by Jeremiah today as “a righteous shoot” who “will reign and govern wisely,” who will “do what is right and just.” The end result, according to Jeremiah would be that “Judah shall be saved” and “Israel shall dwell in security.” The images may have faded a little bit for our postmodern ears and sensibilities, but th...