Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - 1st Week of Advent - Tues
[Isa 11:1-10 and Luke 10:21-24,814]"The calf and the young lion shall browse together with a little child to lead them." [Isaiah] "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the sie and learned you have revealed them to the childlike." [Luke]
Isaiah's majestic vision of a time when even natural enemies are reconciled and co-exist is known as the "peaceable kingdom," rendered most famously in a number of paintings by Edward Hansen in the 1700's. Isaiah was expressing a deep longing for peace in the midst of what seemed like constant conflict in Israel. I dare say that same longing is still present there. For those who are fortunate to live in peaceable places, there are still conflicts of various kinds. The holiday season seems to bring them out and I have heard people say, "If it wasn't for the children, we wouldn't do much."
Jesus' words about the ability of the child to appreciate the gospel message may additionally help us, along with Isaiah, to enter into the Advent experience with the same longing. Yes, there is the longing for what may appear as a gift on Christmas Day, but there may be a deeper longing for the Lord to help us heal family sorrows, or recover health, or gain employment. Some spiritual writers dwell on the expectation of Mary, pregnant with Jesus, as an image of the season. Openness to God's possibilities is a good part of the Advent message. With Isaiah's child and Jesus' advent our problems will not necessarily melt away, but our confidence that God is with us can grow and the future seem liveable. AMEN