Daily Readings - Tue Dec 03 2019
Isaiah
1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: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 of the fear of the LORD;3And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:4But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.5And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.6The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.7And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.10And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Luke
21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.22All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.23And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:24For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard 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 the Messiah, a shoot from the root of Jesse, who will bring peace and harmony to the world. This Messiah is not a warrior but a ruler filled with the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and justice. He will judge the poor with fairness and bring together even the fiercest of enemies, creating a world where harm and violence cease. Isaiah’s prophecy reminds us of God’s promise to restore creation and fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord.
In the Gospel, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, praising the Father for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to the simple and the humble. He emphasizes that true understanding comes not from human wisdom but from a childlike trust in God. Jesus reminds us that many prophets and kings longed to see what we see but did not have the grace to understand. This teaching challenges us to approach God with humility, recognizing that spiritual truths are not reserved for the learned or the powerful but are accessible to all who have open hearts.
Together, these readings call us to live with hope and humility. Isaiah’s vision encourages us to trust in God’s plan for a world transformed by justice and peace. Jesus’ words remind us that this transformation begins in our own hearts through a simple, trusting relationship with God. In our daily lives, we are invited to embody this hope by seeking justice, living peacefully with others, and approaching life with the humility of a child. May we, like the little ones, see and hear the wonders of God’s kingdom, and may our lives reflect the harmony and love that God desires for the world.