Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

As Advent moves steadily toward Christmas, today’s Word invites us to reflect on the kind of King we are waiting for. The refrain of Psalm 72 gives us the lens through which all the readings are to be understood: “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.” This is a promise rooted in God’s saving plan and fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Genesis, Jacob blesses his son Judah. He speaks of kingship, authority, and endurance: “The scepter shall never depart from Judah.” This is a foundational promise in Israel’s history. From Judah will come the line of David, and from David will come the Messiah. Yet this kingship is not presented merely as domination or power. It is meant to bring unity, stability, and blessing to the people. Authority in God’s plan is always linked to responsibility—the responsibility to safeguard life, protect the vulnerable, and uphold justice. Psalm 72 deepens this vision by describing the ideal king. This king governs with justice, defends the afflicted, saves the children of the poor, and establishes peace that reaches “from sea to sea.” Justice and peace are inseparable here. Where justice flourishes, peace follows. Where the weak are defended and the poor are protected, peace takes root and endures. Advent reminds us that true peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice grounded in God’s righteousness. The Gospel genealogy in Matthew may seem, at first glance, like a long list of names. But it is, in fact, a powerful proclamation of God’s faithful justice unfolding through history. This genealogy traces the promise made to Judah through generations marked by faithfulness and failure, holiness and sin, exile and restoration. It includes kings and commoners, saints and sinners, men and women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba—each with complicated and even painful stories. Yet God works through all of them to bring forth Jesus, the Christ. This is where the theme comes into full clarity. The justice that flourishes in Christ is not cold or legalistic; it is merciful, patient, and redemptive. God’s justice does not erase human weakness but transforms it. His peace is not imposed by force but born through fidelity, suffering, and love. In Jesus, the promised King from the line of Judah, justice and peace finally meet—not on a throne of power, but in a manger, and ultimately on the cross. As we prepare for Christmas, Advent challenges us to ask: what kind of world are we helping to prepare for the coming King? Do our lives reflect the justice that defends the poor and the peace that heals divisions? Christ comes not only to be born in history, but to reign in our hearts. When we choose fairness over advantage, compassion over indifference, and truth over convenience, justice begins to flourish, and peace takes root. May this Advent help us recognize the King who comes quietly, fulfills ancient promises, and establishes a Kingdom where justice flourishes and peace endures forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.