Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - 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. On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious. [Isaiah]
One of the principal scriptural features of the liturgical season of Advent is the hopeful vision(s) of Isaiah. Part of the passage for this day has been put into art that appears on Christmas cards and billboards, etc. around the land. Edward Hicks, a carriage painter, who, between 1820 and 1849 painted close to one hundred versions of the vision. But this part of the vision follows another part referring to "the root of Jesse," who was father of King David. This part of the vision speaks of a coming figure who will be endowed with the "Spirit of the Lord...a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord...." Those of us who remember our Confirmation preparation will find familiar terms there that were transformed into the "gifts of the Holy Spirit!" These can become gifts in this season as well!
The scriptures for Advent point to the continual hope generated in this season. That hope has to transcend the material hopes signified each day by running accounts of how much people are spending on Christmas gifts and helping "the Economy!" Perhaps we can be stirred to that greater hope by looking for the "nativity set" gathering dust in the place where we stored it a year ago, and setting it up now? Or we might print out one of Edward Hicks' versions of the Peaceable Kingdom and put it in a prominent place to remind us of the greater hope? Yes, we do have Advent wreaths (blessed at Mass this past Sunday) and Jesse trees and purple vestments and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!" to remind us in the parish church," but what do we have at home?
The greater HOPE of this season has to be more than liturgical observance. The Peaceable Kingdom must be personified in those who believe in the birth of the Lord that is the reason for the season! AMEN
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