Friday, September 30 : Rupert of Deutz

Having joined in collusion with her, the prophet Nathan, together with Bathsheba, petitioned for their plan before the old man, the wise king David, now close to death (1Kgs 1). Then it was that Solomon, whose name means “Lord of peace”, received the royal anointing. Then all the people went up after him; the crowds played on trumpets and gave themselves up to such great rejoicing that the noise of it caused the earth to shake, for the king had declared: “Solomon is the one whom I designate as ruler over Israel and Judah” (vv. 35.40). Now, without question, this enthronement prefigured the mystery of which Daniel speaks: “While the court was convened and the books were opened… I saw one like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven. When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, he received dominion, glory and kingship” (Dn 7:10.13-14). Thus it was at a prophet’s initiative that Solomon was made king, just as it was in fulfilling the prophecies according to their spiritual sense that Christ, the Son of God, was acknowledged King of Peace, King of the Father’s glory, drawing all things to himself. Solomon became king while his father was still alive just as Christ was inaugurated king by God the Father, who cannot die. Indeed, there is no doubt that he made him king and “heir of all things” (Heb 1:2) who does not die and will not die for ever, and – marvellous and unprecedented event – Christ, who is heir of a Father who lives for ever and can never die and who himself died once for all, came back to life and will no longer know death for ever. Then Solomon “mounted the king’s mule” (1Kgs 1:38). But better still, it is on his Father’s throne, that is to say the whole Church…, “far above every principality, authority, power and dominion” (Eph 1:21) that Christ now sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3). This is why the great multitude of people goes up after him with songs and rejoicing and earth trembles at their shouts. And we, too, have heard the great joy of those who made this glory known, that is to say the gladness of the apostles as they spoke in the languages of people everywhere (Acts 2), for “their words have gone out through all the earth and their message to the ends of the world” (Ps 19[18]:5).

maronite readings – rosary,team