Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 - Advent Weekday
[Isaiah 11:1-10 and Luke 10:21-24]Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf aqnd the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
The American painter, Edward Hicks, made this scene far well known by his famous painting, THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM in 1847. It shows up on a lot of Christmas cards. Is it too much to hope for? Is the reality more like what I used to see on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi when parishioners brought their pets to the parking lot for a big blessing. Most of the animals had to be restrained out of fear or aggression! The guiding child or the playful child in the image are easily identified with Jesus at this time of year. The early Christian community was quick to notice that. Still, it isn't just the Christ child that this picture represents. It is a hope for all our children. A peaceful time - a Peaceable Kingdom - is the hope of us all. The gospel for today says that God has revealed the secret of this to the childlike. Perhaps if we adults put down our destructive toys and competition and listened to the little ones the meaning of Advent and its hope would become much clearer. AMEN