Daily Readings - Tue Dec 05 2023
Isaiah
1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.7The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.9They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.10In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Luke
21In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.22All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."23Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
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.