Sunday, 12/4/16
Our first reading, from Chapter Eleven of the Book of the
Prophet Isaiah is one of the most beautiful chapters in the Scriptures. In it,
Isaiah, from seven centuries in advance, saw Jesus as a flower springing from the
roots of Jesse.
Jesse, as the father of David was the first of that royal
line, a line that over seven centuries would be reduced to nothing but a stump.
But, then, the marriage of Mary and Joseph proved to be a fresh shoot from
which Jesus would flower.
Isaiah, from that long ago, saw Jesus as bringing about a
glorious age pictured as one in which the wolf would be the guest of the lamb, and
the calf and the young lion would graze together.
It would be wonderful if the coming of Christ had brought
about such harmony, but it has not; and the prophesy of Isaiah has amounted to
nothing more than a lovely broken promise.
Jesus, as God’s unique Son, had the ability to transform
humanity into the idyllic reality promised through the Prophet. So, why hasn’t
he?
The glorious age promised by Isaiah has fallen flat on its
face because Jesus was counting on us, his agents, to bring it about.
John the Baptist, by his self-sacrificing ways accepted the
challenge, making the world noticeably better, and urging us to join him in the noble mission; but we have let our cheap ways bring discord rther than harmony.
When we were little, my sister Peg had a favorite book where
the three sisters were named Faith, Hope, and Charity. When a fourth girl came
along, they named her Peace, but her sisters slways said she should have been
name Hell and Damnation.
Today’s reading tells us we can have heaven on earth if we give
our all in practicing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. If we open ourselves to his
influence; learning to practice, Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Forttude,
Knowledge, and Fear of the Lord.
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