December 11, Sem. David Woelmer

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.

As we anticipate the beginning of things, we also anticipate the end of the age when Christ will return in glory. But how often in Advent do we consider Christ’s ascension? For the King who descends to His throne in Mary’s womb will certainly return at His ascension to establish His throne in the heavens. For He is from of old, working salvation in the earth with His scepter of uprightness. He is the most handsome of the sons of men, the King anointed by God beyond His companions. Saul has struck down his thousands, David his ten thousands, but this King will strike down the innumerable enemies that stand against His chosen people. “Gird your sword! Ride out victoriously! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.”

If you look at any of the icons of Christ’s ascension, you’ll see Mary as she stands securely in the center as her Son and Lord ascends to the right hand of His Father. She lifts her hands in prayer and adoration as her risen Savior lifts His hands in blessing. Like the Psalmist, her heart echoes with a pleasing theme as she addresses her verses to her King. Her tongue is like a pen of a ready scribe that captures all that she treasures in her heart. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

This Advent, we anticipate our King who is conceived in Mary’s womb, treasured in her heart, and born of her in Bethlehem. Yet we also anticipate our King who fulfills in His ascension what was spoken to Mary by the angel: “The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Christ Academy: High School Student 2013, 2014, 2015 Christ Academy: College Student 2017, 2018 Christ Academy: High School Proctor 2019 Christ Academy Assistant Student Director 2019-2020 Christ Academy Student Director 2020-2021, 2022-2023