Daily Readings - Tue Dec 05 2023
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 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.