Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent

Is 11:1-10
Rom 15:4-9
Mt 3:1-12

In personal and communal living, there are times when all that seems left is a “stump”. Yet those of experience and wisdom know life can come from stumps.

The prophet Isaiah knows God has not finished yet with Israel. Though things are in a political mess under Ahaz, God had promised earlier to Nathan that the kingship of David (son of Jesse) would endure. Isaiah perceives a “shoot” emerging from the political/spiritual “stump” of Jesse.

In today’s world all nations yearn for their “ideal leader”. The nation of Israel was no less expectant of an “ideal king” to emerge to lead them. They wanted a utopian situation. But Jesus’ leadership turned out to be the opposite of what the people of Israel expected it. He was not a powerful political leader and his “kingdom” was without guns or army protection.

Indeed the Israelites wanted Jesus to wave a magic wand to solve all their problems. Their expectations of Jesus’ leadership lack perception and understanding. As citizens of any nation we need to reflect on our expectations. If they are not balanced or tolerant, we can kill growth, limit opportunities, and miss significant persons. Even self-righteous expectations can blind us.

But Jesus saw that things could be better and worked hard to make them realities. Both Jesus and Isaiah hoped for a better world by first calling for an internal “heart change”, not external allegiance to Abraham.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

John the Baptist foresaw a greater baptism, not only of water (an external sign) but also of inner “enablement” through the Holy Spirit. The gentle force of the Holy Spirit would bring about inner conviction to live justly.

The humble invitation is to work towards a kingdom living marked by qualities of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord. These fruits of the Spirit found in a follower of Christ are strong indications of the essence of what Jesus came to bring about in the hearts of all people.

Let us not be afraid to look for these gifts. Perhaps in the looking we will discover a gift for ourselves – the gift of a God waiting to be born in us.