Tuesday 2 December - #Provider

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;  he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

Isaiah 11:1-10

Readings: Psalm 72, Isaiah 11:1-10, Luke 10:21-24

Reflection: 

The prophet Isaiah’s visions in Advent challenge us to become the bearers of good news to the poor and the marginalised of society. Through images of the mountain of the Lord’s house, the peaceful kingdom, the desert highway, and the child Emmanuel, Isaiah describes the coming of the new son of David and the establishment of the reign of God.  What Isaiah saw as God’s will for the future can become a vision that changes things in the present. We revisit the prophecies  during Advent to reorient our hearts to the coming of God’s kingdom that can renew our discipleship today—and how we need that for ourselves. Through Isaiah we find four visions of God:

The Mountain of the Lord’s House (Isaiah 2:1-5),
The Child Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:10-16)

The Peaceful Kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-10)

The Desert Highway (Isaiah 35:1-10)

Isaiah’s message directs our faith to a future in which justice will prevail, in which creation will be restored, and universal peace will be established. Advent heightens this hope and impels us to journey together with Immanuel on this Holy Way, a journey that will culminate with the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. How we need this hope today in our world as we look around us. Where do we sense the need for the reign of God in our lives?

Alleluia, alleluia.

Behold, our Lord shall come with power; 
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.  

Alleluia, alleluia.

Prayer

Lord God,
fill my heart with your love and my mind with your

wisdom so that my actions will be pleasing to you.

May your peace,
which surpasses all
understanding, guard my

heart and mind in Christ Jesus, through your Holy Spirit.

Amen.