Prophet, Priest, King: People of Advent

Prophet, Priest, King: People of Advent

Norman R. Guivens, Jr. ’79

Presentation toTech Catholic Community’s

“TCC Monday Night”21 November 2011

NRG/21Nov2011/2

Motivation for Topic

“Let us, then, go beyond the initial teachings aboutChrist and advance to maturity…” – Hebrews 5:1.

“Upon all the laity, therefore, rests the noble duty of working toextend the divine plan of salvation to all men of each epochand in every land. Consequently, may every opportunity begiven them so that, according to their abilities and the needs

of the times, they may zealously participate in the savingwork of the Church.” – Second Vatican Council, dogmatic

constitution Lumen gentium, No. 53.

NRG/21Nov2011/3

Outline of Presentation

• Legacies of Faith in Old Testament– Abraham, Moses, and Solomon– Relationship to Christian faith

• Season of Advent– Spiritual focus– Liturgical celebration– Significant figures– Major themes

• Christian Celebration of Christmas– Liturgical celebration– Significant figures

• Summary

NRG/21Nov2011/4

Legacies of Faith

NRG/21Nov2011/5

Significant Figures – Old Testament

• Abraham– Genesis, Ch. 12-25

• Moses– Exodus– Leviticus– Numbers– Deuteronomy

• Solomon– I Kings, Ch. 1-12– 2 Chronicles, Ch. 1-10– Proverbs– Wisdom– Song of Songs

• Abraham– “Leave your past and go to

the land I will show you”– Sacrifice of Isaac

• Moses– “Lead chosen out of Egypt

to the land I will show you”– Tablets of Law– Torah (law of Judaism)

• Solomon– “Because you asked for

wisdom, I also will give you great wealth”

– Built temple on Mt. Zion

NRG/21Nov2011/6

Legacies of Faith – Old Testament

Abraham Moses Solomon

?Fulfillment

?Manner of Call

?Vocation

?Focus

?Danger

?Center of Faith

NRG/21Nov2011/7



Promised Event (Future)

?Fulfillment

DirectRevelation

?Manner of Call

New Task orDirection

?Vocation

Own Weakness,Power of God

?Focus

Loss of Roots ?Danger

Anywhere ?Center of Faith

NRG/21Nov2011/8




Passover Event(Past)

?Fulfillment

DirectRevelation

InflexibleCovenant

?Manner of Call


Observe LawSet in Stone

?Vocation

Our Weakness,Power of God

Grandeur andMystery of God

?Focus

Loss of Roots Irrelevance ?Danger

Anywhere Temple ?Center of Faith

NRG/21Nov2011/9




Passover Event(Past)

Current Day(Present)

Fulfillment

DirectRevelation

InflexibleCovenant

DynamicCovenant

Manner of Call


Observe LawSet in Stone

Apply Law toNew Situation

Vocation

Our Weakness,Power of God

Grandeur andMystery of God

Struggle toUnderstand God

Focus

Loss of Roots Irrelevance Human ErrorDanger

Anywhere Temple SynagogueCenter of Faith

NRG/21Nov2011/10

Faith in the New Testament


Paul, Mark, John Peter, Jude John, JamesWriters of New Testament

Prophetic Priestly Royal (Wisdom)Type of Faith

Radical JewsJohn the Baptist

Sadducees(Priests, Levites)

Pharisees(Rabbis)

Jews of New Testament

Underclass Upper Class Middle ClassJewish Society

Guide Priest TeacherRole of Minister

Free,Charismatic

Sacrifice,Formal Liturgy

None (Focuson Study)

Nature of Worship

Hebrews Matthew, Luke

NRG/21Nov2011/11

Nature of Christian Faith

“The Christian faithful are those who, inasmuch as they havebeen incorporated in Christ through baptism, have beenconstituted as the people of God. For this reason, made

sharers in their own way in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, androyal function, they are called to exercise the mission which

God has entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world, inaccord with the condition proper to each.”

– Codex Juris Canonici (Code of Canon Law), Can. 204 §1.

NRG/21Nov2011/12

Some Aspects of Christian Faith

• The Coming of Christ to Us – Mystery of Christmas– Priestly (past): birth in Bethlehem– Royal (present): coming into heart of believer (baptism)– Prophetic (future): eschatological return in glory at end of time

• Salvation– Priestly (past): have been saved – baptism/paschal event– Royal (present): am being saved – purification; growth in

holiness and sanctity guided by Holy Spirit– Prophetic (future): will be saved – promise of eternal life

• Spiritual Life– Priestly – liturgical prayer, sacraments– Royal – study of divine revelation, ongoing liturgical evolution– Prophetic – private prayer, religious orders, renewal movements

• “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”

NRG/21Nov2011/13

The Advent Season

NRG/21Nov2011/14

Spiritual Focus of Advent

“Advent has a twofold character as a season to prepare forChristmas when Christ’s first coming to us is remembered;as a season when that remembrance directs the mind andheart to await Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time.Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation.”– General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar.

NRG/21Nov2011/15

Liturgical Season of Advent

• Begins with First Vespers of Fourth Sunday Before Christmas– Sunday from 27 November to 03 December inclusive

• Ends “Before First Vespers of Christmas” on 24 December• Four Sundays of Advent

– Designated by sequential order (first through fourth)– Precedence over all conflicting celebrations (Solemnity of

Immaculate Conception transfers to 09 December, but no transfer of obligation, when 08 December falls on Sunday)

• Weekdays of Advent through 16 December (“Advent I”)– Designated by day of sequential week of Advent season– Same precedence in calendar as weekdays of ordinary time

• Weekdays of Advent 17 – 24 December (“Advent II”)– Lead into Christmas; thus designated by date on calendar– “Privileged season” taking precedence over all memorials

NRG/21Nov2011/16

Significant Figures of Advent Season

• Isaiah– Prophet of old testament; heavily messianic prophesy– 7 of 12 readings from old testament for Sunday masses

(messianic readings from other prophets of old testament for other Sunday masses during Advent)

– 14 of 17 readings for weekday masses before 17 December• John the Baptizer

– Herald’s voice in desert, fulfilling prophesy of Isaiah (gospel readings for masses of second and third Sundays of Advent)

– In Elizabeth’s womb; quickening upon arrival of pregnant Mary at Elizabeth’s home (gospel reading for Fourth Sunday of Advent in Lectionary Year C)

• Mary– Pregnant with the Messiah (Fourth Sunday of Advent)– Presence anticipates Christmas

NRG/21Nov2011/17

Major Themes of Advent Season

• New Beginnings– New liturgical year on First Sunday of Advent– Pregnancy (Mary, Elizabeth)

• Waiting – Imminent Event– Threefold coming of Christ– Curious continuity with Solemnity of Christ the King on last

Sunday of liturgical year• Fulfillment of Messianic Prophecies

– Freedom to captives– Healing of blind, deaf, lame, and mute– Peace (lion lying with lamb, end of war); healing of fear– Leveling of mountains and filling of valleys to prepare a level way– Reconciliation of sin (preaching of John the Baptizer)

• Comforting: Light in Darkness, Warmth in Winter

NRG/21Nov2011/18

Liturgical Celebration of Advent

• Liturgical Color: “Violet” – NOT “Purple”– Admits deep blue shades that many liturgists now recommend to

distinguish Advent from Lent (light blue NOT authorized)– Rose optional on Third Sunday of Advent (“Gaudete Sunday”)

• Mass– Gloria omitted on Sundays of Advent, but Alleluia retained– Generally eschatological gospel readings at weekday masses

up to 16 December and on First Sunday of Advent– John the Baptizer on Second and Third Sundays of Advent– Beginning of Matthew and Luke on weekdays from 17 December

to 24 December; Mary “With Child” on Fourth Sunday of Advent• Liturgy of the Hours

– Proper texts for entire season– Seven messianic “O Antiphons” for Magnificat at vespers from

17 December to 23 December; used even on Sundays

NRG/21Nov2011/19

“O” Antiphons for 17-19 December

“O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with yourstrong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to

salvation.” (17 December)

“O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses inthe burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:come stretch out your mighty had to set us free.” (18 December)

“O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign forall peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come; let nothing keep you from

coming to our aid.” (19 December)

NRG/21Nov2011/20

“O” Antiphons for 20-23 December

“O key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will thegate of Heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death forthose who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead

your captive people into freedom.” (20 December)

“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come,shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”

(21 December)

“O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; OKeystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature

you fashioned from the dust.” (22 December)

“O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior ofall people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” (23 December)

NRG/21Nov2011/21

Celebration of Christmas

NRG/21Nov2011/22

Liturgical Celebration of Christmas

• First Vespers and Vigil Mass of Christmas on 24 December• Proper to Assist in Three Distinct Masses of Christmas Day

– Mass at Midnight (often celebrated after dark on 24 December)– Mass at Dawn (often used for early morning masses)– Mass During the Day

• Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Octave (01 January)– Formerly Feast of Circumcision of the Lord

• Days within Octave– Same liturgical precedence as feasts of saints– Split celebration with feasts of saints that fall on these days

• Epiphany – 06 January in General Calendar, but Transfers to Sunday after January 1 where Not Holy Day of Obligation

• Ends on Baptism of the Lord – Sunday after 06 January, but Transfers to Monday when Impeded by Transfer of Epiphany

NRG/21Nov2011/23

Days within Octave of Christmas

All Except Vespers VespersDay

Feast of Holy FamilySunday*

Feast of Saint Stephen Octave of Christmas26 December

Feast of Saint John Octave of Christmas27 December

Feast of Holy Innocents Octave of Christmas28 December

Octave of Christmas29 December



* – Celebrated on 30 December, without First Vespers, when noSunday within Octave (Christmas and Octave on Sundays)

NRG/21Nov2011/24

Faith of the Christmas Season

• Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-23)– Revelations from angel who appears in dream; obedient thereto

• Mary (Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-7,19-20)– Revelation from angel; accepts God’s plan

• Shepherds (Luke 2:9-18)– Revelation from angel who appears at night, with angel choirs

praising God; went to see Messiah• Magi/Astrologers (Matthew 2:1-12)

– “We have observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.”

– Revelation not to return to Herod; returned home by another route

• John the Baptizer (Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:2-11, Luke 3:1-22, John 1:19-34)– Baptism of Jesus

NRG/21Nov2011/25

Conclusion

NRG/21Nov2011/26

Summary

• Distinct Prophetic, Priestly, and Kingly Paradigms of Faith in Old Testament– Respectively look to future, past, and present– All encompassed in Christian faith– Correspondence to threefold coming of Christ and to other

aspects of Christian mystery– Note heavily prophetic component in lives of nearly all

canonized saints• Unique Emphasis on Prophetic Component in Advent Season

– Forward-looking themes– Prophetic figures foretelling or anticipating future events

• Also Heavily Prophetic Element in Christmas Season– Prophetic figures acting on direct revelation

Documents

Prophet, Priest, King: People of Advent