Word to the Wise
Tuesday, November 29, 2016 - 1st Week of Advent - Tues
[Isa 11:1-10 and Luke 10:21-24]TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016. TUESDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT [Isaiah 11:1-10 and Luke 10:21-24] "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." [Luke] These words of Jesus could apply to the longing that is expressed in the first scripture for today from Isaiah: "Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid......There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain..." We can see that longing in the painting by Edward Hansen, THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM that is featured on so many Christmas cards. We experience that longing when we hope and pray for peace in those parts of the world that only know bombs and violence and warfare. Our longing pales beside that of the innocent victims of that violence. Even in the streets of our cities where drug and gun violence make life miserable for so many, that longing can be found. Advent is a season for hoping and for longing. We are blessed to have the prophecy of Isaiah and the words of Jesus - to see and hear of these things. Anything we can do to help bring about "the peaceable kingdom" is worth the effort. There may be something very near us, in our own city or neighborhood. A peaceable Advent - a peaceable kingdom - is within reach. AMEN