God in the Midst (3rd Sunday of Advent)

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The prophet Zephaniah lived in Judah during the 7th century BC, and prophesied during the days of King Josiah (640–609 BC). He is a grandson of king Hezekiah (Zeph. 1:1), which makes him unique among the prophets in being part of the house of David. At this time, Judah was experiencing a spiritual revival, as the Law was rediscovered, and idolatry was removed from the land (2 Kings 22-23). However, this was not to last, as the kings that came after Josiah brought back idolatry and lawlessness, which ultimately led to the fall of Judah.

Zephaniah foresaw this, and spoke of the imminent judgment of Judah, warning that they would be swept away by the Babylonians on account of their sins. However, after this, Judah’s enemies would also experience judgment, and Judah would be vindicated and restored.

This passage is a statement of the reversal of the fortunes of Judah, as the judgments brought upon them would be taken away, and they would return to their land. God is depicted as a mighty warrior who fights His people’s battles for them. He not only watches over them from afar, but is said to be in their very midst. Their sorrow is said to be turned into singing and rejoicing, as the last two verses of Zephaniah declare their ingathering from the Babylonian Exile:

I will deal with all your oppressors

at that time.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

At that time I will bring you home,

at the time when I gather you;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes, says the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:19-20)

The coming of the Lord to His people’s midst happened in a very real way during the Incarnation, when God the Word took on flesh through Mary, the new Daughter of Zion (cf. CCC 2676), and dwelt among us. Like the return from exile, this advent came as a reversal of fortunes, only this time, this would result in salvation from eternal death, and those who would benefit include not only Jews, but the nations as well.

Like the people of Jerusalem of old, those who put their faith in Jesus can rejoice because they experience spiritual revival in this life, and will in the future experience final vindication and deliverance from judgment when the Lord comes again on the last day.

J. Luis Dizon