Daily Readings - Tue Dec 04 2018
Isaiah
1A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.2The Spirit of the LORD 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 the LORD -3and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;4but 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.5Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.6The 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.7The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.8The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.9They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.10In 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.
Luke
21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.22"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."23Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.24For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful visions of God’s plan for humanity, emphasizing humility, justice, and the revelation of divine truth. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future filled with peace and harmony, where even natural enemies coexist in tranquility. This messianic vision is rooted in the promise of a leader from the root of Jesse, who will rule with wisdom, justice, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from Luke complements this by showing Jesus rejoicing in the Father’s wisdom, who reveals profound truths not to the wise and powerful, but to the simple and humble. Jesus emphasizes that many prophets and kings longed to see what His disciples see, but they did not have the grace of such revelation.
The connection between the readings lies in their shared theme of God’s preference for the lowly and the humble. Isaiah’s vision of a world transformed by justice and peace is not just a distant dream but a reality that begins in the hearts of those who trust in God. Similarly, Luke’s passage reminds us that spiritual truths are not reserved for the elite or the learned but are accessible to those who approach God with childlike faith and openness. Both readings challenge us to embrace humility and simplicity, recognizing that God’s ways are often hidden from the proud but revealed to those who seek Him with a pure heart.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we approach God with the humility and openness of a child? Are we willing to trust in His plan, even when it seems mysterious or hidden? The moral lesson here is clear: true wisdom and understanding come not from human knowledge or power but from a deep trust in God’s providence. May we, like the disciples, be blessed to see and hear the wonders of God’s kingdom, and may we live in a way that reflects the justice, peace, and love that He desires for all creation.