Readings for Celebrating Advent

Footnotes

1. Psalm 100:1 Although it does not explicitly mention the theme of the Lord as King, this psalm is linked with the group of psalms of the kingdom by its style and ideas and serves as a kind of general conclusion for them. The Lord is King of the world and especially of Israel, his flock. This is the Good News that calls for praise and joy.
   The psalmist intimates that in a few brief moments, the sacrifice will be offered by which the people enter into communion with God (see Lev 7:11-15). He invites the throng to celebrate the one God and his providence for the people he has created and chosen for himself. Although this hymn is short, it must have filled the hearts of believers with great wonder since they knew themselves to be in the hand of God. The entire universe is invited to share this endless joy of Israel.
   By this hymn, the Church calls Christians to sing to the Lord Jesus with a similar enthusiastic joy, for he too is our Lord and God (see Jn 20:28). In cooperation with his Father he has created and then re-created us (see Jn 1:1-3, 12). Because of this, we belong entirely to him (see 1 Cor 3:22f).
2. Psalm 100:1 Thanksgiving: this word may indicate that the psalm was to be used in conjunction with a “thank offering” (see Lev 7:12).
3. Psalm 100:1 Acclaim the Lord: a similar opening phrase occurs in Pss 66; 81; 95. All the earth: the entire world is to worship God for all that he is and all that he has done for his people (see Pss 47:2f; 66:1, 4; 97:1; 117:1 for this theme of universalism).
4. Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord: the psalmist reminds the people that their first duty is to worship the Lord with mind, heart, and voice in complete gladness.
5. Psalm 100:3 Proclaim . . . God: acknowledge that the Lord is God and be faithful to him; it is a statement of monotheism (see Deut 4:39; 32:39; Isa 43:10, 13). Made us . . . his people: through his choice and the wonders he did for them (see Ps 95:6). Flock he shepherds: see note on Ps 95:7. Christians know that God made us his people through Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who gave his life for his sheep (see Jn 10:11).
6. Psalm 100:4 His gates: of the temple (see note on Ps 24:7, 9). Courts: of the temple (see Ps 84:3, 11; 2 Ki 21:5; 23:11f).
7. Psalm 100:5 The psalm concludes with the reasons why the Lord is to be praised: he is good (i.e., generous), kind (i.e., merciful), and faithful to his promises from generation to generation (see Pss 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 136:1; 138:8; 2 Chr 5:13; Ezr 3:11; 1 Mac 4:24; Jer 33:11; Mic 7:18-20; Mt 19:17; 1 Jn 4:7ff).