Daily Readings - Tue Dec 05 2023
Isaiah
1And a rod will go forth from the root of Jesse, and a flower will ascend from his root2And the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety3And he will be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. He will not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears4Instead, he will judge the poor with justice, and he will reprove the meek of the earth with fairness. And he will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and he will slay the impious with the spirit of his lips5And justice will be the belt around his waist. And faith will be the warrior’s belt at his side6The wolf will dwell with the lamb; and the leopard will lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion and the sheep will abide together; and a little boy will drive them7The calf and the bear will feed together; their young ones will rest together. And the lion will eat straw like the ox8And a breastfeeding infant will play above the lair of the asp. And a child who has been weaned will thrust his hand into the den of the king snake9They will not harm, and they will not kill, on all my holy mountain. For the earth has been filled with the knowledge of the Lord, like the waters covering the sea10In that day, the root of Jesse, who stands as a sign among the people, the same the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulcher will be glorious
Luke
21In the same hour, he exulted in the Holy Spirit, and he said: "I confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones. It is so, Father, because this way was pleasing before you22All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and those to whom the Son has chosen to reveal him.23And turning to his disciples, he said: "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see24For I say to you, that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and they did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and they did not hear them.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of hope, justice, and the revelation of God’s plan. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful vision of a messianic figure who will arise from the root of Jesse. This figure is filled with the Spirit of the Lord, bringing wisdom, understanding, and justice. The passage paints a picture of a world transformed, where even natural enemies live in harmony, and the earth is filled with the knowledge of God. This is a vision of peace and restoration, rooted in God’s justice and mercy.
In the Gospel, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, acknowledging that God has hidden these truths from the wise and revealed them to the simple. This is both a celebration of God’s sovereignty and a reminder that spiritual truths are not reserved for the powerful or the learned. Jesus emphasizes that the Father and the Son share a unique relationship, and that the Son has the authority to reveal the Father to those he chooses. This revelation is not just intellectual knowledge but a deep, transformative understanding that comes from a humble and open heart.
These readings remind us that God’s ways are not our ways, and that His wisdom often challenges our assumptions. Isaiah’s vision of harmony and justice calls us to work towards a world where the vulnerable are protected and all creation thrives. Jesus’ words invite us to embrace humility and simplicity, trusting that God reveals Himself to those who are willing to see and hear. In our daily lives, we are called to live with this same hope and humility, trusting in God’s plan and seeking to be instruments of His justice and peace. Let us ask for the grace to see with the eyes of faith and to live in harmony with God’s will.