“…separated unto the gospel of God, which he had promised before, by his prophets, in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son, who was made to him of the seed of David, according to the flesh…”
“Separated unto the Gospel” means grasped with love by Jesus for goodness, for “Gospel,” or “Good News” is a beautiful work, for the work of love is its own reward. Now, this good news was promised by the prophets, for on love “dependeth the whole law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). “Separated” is of note, “No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him;” (John 6:44), because being drawn by true love, one is therefore captivated by the True Lover. This is a grace that can be requested, as we see in the divine Canticle: “Draw me” (Song 1:3). Be drawn into merciful love! Separate yourself from the way the world tries to love, from how you used to love, and cling to True Love, “It is good for me to adhere to my God” (Psalm 72:28). The Gospel of love had been long announced, for it “had been promised before,” and in the entirety of the Old Testament, the knowing eye can find love and the summons to love truly throughout. “I LOVE YOU” (Isaias 43:4); “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore have I drawn thee, taking pity on thee” (Jeremias 31:3). St. Thomas Aquinas notes the addition of the word “holy” as a description of the Scriptures as something that sets it aside from gentile writings. The wisdom of love is the true wisdom, and “wisdom is justified by all her children” (Luke 7:35), and while traces of this can be found in different pagan philosophers, in the holy Scriptures God speaks to you, speaking His beautiful words to you that your heart may melt in affection; “My soul melted when he spoke” (Song 5:6). The eternal generation of Christ is one of love, and the Father looks on the Son with a tender love, a joyful love, a love so extraordinary that this love itself is the Holy Spirit, and the Father through the prophets and the rest of the holy Scriptures wants to show this beloved Son to you. This same Son was a child of David, though a king still a mere man, and was born according to the flesh. St. Paul here begins with what is small and natural to us that we may be brought by heavenly realities. So too does Jesus come to the very depths of your littleness and brokenness, having shared in both, to take you gently by the hand and lead you to the heights of the divine mysteries. He found you trampled and bloodied, restored you to beauty, and now carries you to the depths of His love, that you may radiate His merciful love. O little David, how glorious on earth and how little in comparison with the King that was to come, “The Lord said to my Lord” (Psalm 109:1). No matter how elevated you may become in this world, you are still a precious little one in the arms of God.