Daily Readings - Tue Dec 03 2019
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
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.