On this Second Sunday in Advent, we again meet the audacity of the Hebrew and Christian Bible in these readings daring us to believe that God is still doing a New Thing. The scene proposed by these lessons seems so alien to the surrounding Winter Dark, already being dotted with lights of forced gaiety and manufactured nostalgia…. Will the multitude of the heavenly host burst onto our chilly hillside ever again? Can we believe the rumor of angels told in our faith communities?
Isaiah of Jerusalem calls words of hope to those about to enter the train wreck of the late, great Israel. Even though the Old Splendor has long expired, “a shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse” [David’s father, remember] with “the spirit of the Lord”. (11:1-2) Not only will this be the Righteous Judge, but he will introduce a time of sublime peace when enemies will exist together and not devour each other. “They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain….on that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations [even the Gentiles!] shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.” (vv. 9-10]
The Roman letter of St. Paul re-visits this counter-cultural message of the Peaceable Kingdom (15:4-9), Not one for symbolism, the author avoids lions ‘n’ lambs to come straight to the point: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He successfully makes the link to the Hebrew writings: “….Isaiah says, ‘the root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.'”
In our Wednesday lectionary group, we routinely ask, “Where’s the Grace? Where’s the Good News?” And well may we ask, in the Gospel reading of Matthew 3:1-12. John the Baptizer minces no words in calling the religious establishment a “brood of vipers”, and calling even (especially!) them to repentance. Turn around now, he says, for the barren trees and the left-over straw will be burned, even as the olives and barley are stored away! This must be Good News for the faithful; but who are they??
The neighbor across the street from our Parsonage in Montrose PA had a giant cottonwood tree, which I valued for its shade, But it did shed lots of “cotton” in the late summer, and the owner had it cut down. Completely. Even the top of the stump was buried. But come Spring, many of the nearby yards sprouted lines of little cottonwoods, bursting upwards from the sprawling roots! A symbol of the Creator’s tenacity? Shoots springing from the stump of Jesse? Advent brings the audacious Good News that despite human meddling, God hasn’t given up on building a Peaceable Kingdom!
God Bless Us Every One! H B King
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