In the heart of Jerusalem, King David, now at peace from his adversaries, contemplated the contrast between his grand palace and the modest tent sheltering the Ark of God. Confiding in Nathan the prophet, David expressed his desire to build a temple for the Lord. That night, however, the Lord spoke to Nathan, delivering a message for David. Instead of granting David’s wish, the Lord reminded him of his humble beginnings as a shepherd and recounted His constant presence and support in David’s rise to power.

In the days when the people walked in shadows, the Lord God proclaimed a promise, sending forth His messenger to prepare the way. The temple, a beacon of hope, awaited the sudden arrival of the Lord. His coming was like a refiner’s fire, purifying and preparing the sons of Levi. The Lord’s messenger, envisioned as Elijah, was to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, knitting together the fabric of families, preventing the doom that loomed over the land.

In a time before our own, humanity was introduced to sin by one man’s actions. This sin cast a shadow of death upon all, as everyone became entangled in its grasp. However, hope shone through when another Man, Jesus Christ, came into the world. His grace and selfless gift countered the devastation brought on by the first man. Jesus’s singular act of righteousness granted acquittal and life to all, reversing the condemnation that had befallen humanity.