Advent 2

Preparation

         Please begin by reading Isaiah 11:1-10 in your Bible. If you do not have one at hand, we have provided that text for you at the end of this reflection.

Reflection--A Banner for the Peoples

The setting for today's text from Isaiah is grounded in Israel's royal theology that the house of David (who was the son of Jesse) will rule forever. But it speaks of more than David's royal dynasty during the days of Israel's ancient greatness.

Isaiah speaks of a day when a coming messianic figure will "stand as a banner for the Peoples." Everyone will rally to this figure who will change the very nature of things and who will work justice in the world. From our view thousands of years later, we can see Jesus as the messiah, the "anointed one" from Jesse's line. Clearly, despite a life lived in humble circumstances rather than royal splendor, the Spirit of God was on him. That he embodied wisdom, understanding, counsel, and great spiritual power is evident in the Gospel accounts of his earthly life and in the incalculable impact of that life in the 2,000 years that have followed it.

This passage also reflects the tension of the Advent message about Jesus; the promise of a time when the innocent are safe from harm, but those who have abused the poor and oppressed of the earth will be sternly called to account. Perhaps that is the best focus for us as we prepare again for the coming of Jesus; the humble child of the past, the savior in the present, and the righteous judge of the future.

Our modern urban life tends to be hectic. The pace grows even more frenzied as the pleasures and burdens of preparing for Christmas are added to already full plates of activity. Even so, we are called to carve out some quiet space for reflection.

• Do we look forward to Christ's peaceable reign with joy or with apprehension?

• Is there injustice in our lives that we need to clear away to make room for Jesus' presence.

• Does our life help or hinder the advent of Jesus' peaceful reign?

• Are we really ready to welcome "the banner for the peoples" with joy, or are there "lions" and "cobras" in our lives that we have not yet surrendered to God to be tamed so that we can lead the positive life God has ready for us?

revclay

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Isaiah 11:1-10

    A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of God will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of God and he will delight in the fear of God. 

    He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.  He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.  Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

    The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.