From Shepherd to Royalty

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the story of David and Goliath. David was a small and humble shepherd, and Goliath was a big, strong warrior who should have been no match for a small shepherd. We all know that David, the underdog, won their battle with a slingshot. When I was growing up, we had a small statue that was a replica of Michelangelo’s David. I never really thought much of the tiny replica statue until one day, one of my sister‘s friends decided that she was scandalized that the David was nude, so she took it upon herself to clothe him with crepe paper. She declared  David was dressed up for Halloween! This statue is no more than a foot and a half tall, and I knew that it was a miniature of the actual sculpture. Well, you might imagine my complete shock when I saw the real, enormous sculpture in person in Florence, Italy, because it is absolutely massive. I had no idea that our tiny statue was, in reality, absolutely larger than life at 17 feet tall! 

The David’s oversized presence gave me a different perspective of the story of David and Goliath. In the end, David, the victor, seems larger than life. He was a small shepherd child who lived a nomadic life. Michelangelo helps us all imagine David as the royalty that he became. This monumental marble man lives up to the reputation of the ancient King David. David was the model king, and our scriptures tell us that Jesus was a direct descendant of David. In today’s First Reading, Isaiah describes the Jesse Tree. This tree is not an actual tree, but a person who is a descendant of Jesse, David’s father. The Jesse Tree is the legacy of David and Jesus, our Savior. 

Today, as we prepare for the birth of Jesus, who was and is priest, prophet, and royalty, I cannot help but think about King David: a shepherd who defeats a gladiator to then become a monarch. Jesus was born into an immigrant family who became refugees in Egypt because it was not safe for his family to reside in their homeland. Jesus was not born in a hospital, a home, nor a hotel. He was born in a smelly barn. This humble beginning, with his earthly parent a carpenter and not royalty, is very similar to King David’s humble beginning. 

What can the humble beginnings and surprising leadership of King David and Jesus teach us? Perhaps a caution about making assumptions based on where someone is from and/or their profession? David and Jesus can teach us that we all have a vocation or a purpose. We all have a call to answer from God. Even if society dictates that we “can’t” answer that call because of something like social status or socioeconomic background, God’s call to us is greater than any human boundaries. We all have something to offer! May we find the bravery in our hearts to listen to where God might be calling us, even if it doesn’t “make sense.” May we have the courage to answer God’s call for the deepest desires of our hearts to be fulfilled. Think about how different our lives could have been if David and Jesus did not answer their calls to live out their truest vocation? 

I have had many Advent seasons where I was waiting, longing, and wondering if God was listening to me. I was longing for God and needing to feel a shift in my life. Often, even when it was time for the birth of Jesus, I did not feel like rejoicing. Sometimes, Advent can last longer than 4 weeks.Waiting and longing for a shift can last for years or even decades. God’s time is not our own. One of the dangers of skipping Advent and jumping into the Christmas frenzy is that we can forget that life is not like buying something online. We live in a time when we can buy whatever we want, whenever we want, instantly, at the tips of our fingers, 24/7. Almost literally. This instant gratification for material goods can be confusing for our spiritual, physical, and emotional bodies. We cannot just push a button and have something change in our bodies or in our lives. Healing takes time, building careers takes time, cultivating relationships with our loved ones takes time, learning to be an expert in a craft takes time. Advent is countercultural to remind us that not everything in life can be acquired with a few clicks and delivered to our front door.

May we trust that as we wait in this Advent season in darkness, there may be signs of light to remind us that God can see our light shining and our greatest potential, even when we cannot. Although we might not be descendants of the Tree of Jesse, we are all called to be priest, prophet, and royalty, from our baptism. Just like David and Jesus. God’s time is certainly not the same as Amazon’s. May God bring all of us some signs that we do not wait in vain. May God bring us strength for this holy waiting in darkness, and enough light so that we can be ready when God comes to be with us this Christmas! 

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The Rev. Jocelyn E. Collen is a transitional deacon serving in the Episcopal Diocese of MA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from from Fairfield University, a Master of Divinity from Boston College, and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation from Boston College. She lives just outside of Boston with her spouse and baby.