Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 1, 2020 - 1st Week of Advent - Tues
[Isa 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 and 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. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea. [Isaiah] "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]
Each year the image of Edward Hicks' famous renditions of Isaiah's prophecy ("The Peaceable Kingdom") springs to mind. On momentous occasions, we make special efforts to attend an event that is considered "history in the making." It was difficult for Jesus' audiences to envision history in the making when they saw a humble itinerant preacher from Nazareth, the son of a carpenter. He was simply not as dramatic as Isaiah seems to portray. How could he be the subject of human longing that natural enemies can at last declare peace and maintain it. (More cynical wags might note that the elephant and donkey are not on the list.)
The Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength and fear of the Lord which Isaiah speaks of has come to each of us in baptism and confirmation. Can we not listen to this Spirit in this holy season? Can we take care of our nation in the grips of a pandemic and political paralysis? Can we do something that our eyes will be blessed to see and our ears to hear? Will Jesus be a disappointment? Or will he be the fulfillment of our deepest longings as individuals and a nation? Advent invites us to discernment. AMEN