Reflection
“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.…”
When a tree is cut down, it seems to be the end of it. But sometimes, a tiny green spark of life peeks up from that stump and turns into a shoot. Then surprisingly, a renewed life and finally a blossom spring forth. That’s the vision Isaiah offers us in today’s readings. This vision continues with natural enemies living contentedly together. Wolves and lambs resting next to each other. Babies playing near a cobra’s den. A little child shepherding not only calves but young lions. It’s a vision of peace, life and renewal, which Isaiah offers to us as we begin Advent. This prophet offers hope, 600 years before its fulfillment, in the birth of Jesus.
Our reading and psalm present us with a promise and a hope of justice, of peace and of harmony between antagonists: lamb and wolf, baby and cobra, child and adder. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever: something the people of God needed to hear and long desired to hear. And yet the beautiful promise sounded so distant into the future, that its fulfillment appeared to them beyond reach. When?
In the gospel reading Jesus tells the disciples that the promise has now been fulfilled: Blessed are the eyes that see what you see... many prophets and kings desired to see what you see... A blessing that becomes reality doubly in ourselves, not only because we live in this time of fulfillment, but also because we believe without having seen, just as the prophets hoped without seeing. Indeed, we are challenged to believe against what we do see, which is very different from the signs promised through Isaiah: justice and peace, coexistence in harmony.
When those signs are not at hand, it is our responsibility to create them to help ourselves and others to believe. Not necessarily to produce justice, peace and harmony in the world at large, which may be beyond our reach, but to create them in the personal worlds in which each one of us lives: family, workplace, social circles. Does my presence bring justice, peace and harmony to my personal world? Am I a sign, or a countersign?
There are two dimensions to a sign: sign as offered and signed as recognized. It is our Advent calling to live in such a way that our living can be experienced as sign of the coming Messiah. And we hope others recognize our sign. Their recognition is not our responsibility, it is theirs. It was Christ’s role to offer the witness of His life which remains incomplete in us, until we choose to recognize Him. Advent is a time for striving to recognize signs.
Some people may say, “If Jesus is the Messiah, where is the peace and justice that is supposed to accompany the messianic age?” In faith and hope, we answer that the promises have only BEGUN to be fulfilled; we have experienced that beginning, and we continue to pray, as Jesus taught us, “Thy kingdom come.” Advent helps us see the gap between promise and fulfillment and bring forth peace and justice at every opportunity. We have the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, knowledge and fear of the LORD, within…so we cry, Lord Jesus, come!