O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

As we continue our preparation for the celebration of Christmas, we reflect today on two more titles of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The first is obvious. As the son of David, he is the fulfillment of the promise of God to David that one of his descendants would establish a kingdom that will last forever. Jesus is Lord and King, our Lord and King. The second title acknowledges another central role of Jesus, as keystone of the Church. A keystone or corner stone is the central stone in an arch. It holds all the other stones in place. If removed the arch crumbles. Jesus is the one who through his death and resurrection has brought Jews and Gentiles together in oneness with him. Though rejected by those of his day, he has become the one chosen by God to be the foundation of the everlasting kingdom. There is no salvation outside of Jesus and there is no eternal kingdom outside of Jesus