Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday of the First Week of Advent, Year A

Isaiah 11:1-10,

Psalm 72:1-2.7-8.12-13-17,

Luke I 0:2 1-24 Full Readings

Blessed Charles de Foucauld

 Intimacy with the Holy Trinity

Brethren, as we have started Advent let us continue to prepare ourselves day and night for welcoming the Messiah of the world whose birth we shall celebrate on Christmas as a remembrance of Jesus' first  coming on earth. Today he still comes though not in a physical way but in a spiritual way through various ways. To welcome him daily we also need to prepare ourselves to receive him and enjoy his gifts. Today's first reading explains well the Messiah whom we are waiting for, who he is, his nature and what he will do on earth and in our hearts.

Isaiah says that, "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isa 11:1). A stump is the last part of the tree that is left on the ground when the main tree has been cut down. Normally, it is expected that it should die off but a shoot rather grows from it. When King David's throne was overthrown and vacant for centuries, God promised, nonetheless, to raise up a new king from the stump of Jesse, the father of David. This messianic king would rule forever because the Spirit of God would rest upon him and remain with him (Isaiah 11:1). This king is Jesus Christ who remarked that many prophets and kings before him longed to see him and understand God's plan for establishing his kingdom but did not get a chance. Are we not better than our fathers and former prophets since we receive and see Jesus but of course with the eyes of faith. 

God is able to do anything according to how he wills. When David's kingdom fell, he brought it back by bringing his own son as a new King whose kingdom lasts forever. Brethren, from any seemingly hopeless situation you may find yourself, God is going to lift you up and make you stand out as a sign of his glory to serve him always and live in peace with others, and it shall be well with you.

From this reading, Jesus possesses all the seven gifts of the Spirit, which are rather artificially, taken. Seven is the perfect number, so this is intended to signify that the promised ruler will have all possible gifts of what we more generally call wisdom and understanding. He will be a ruler before whom one can stand in the secure knowledge that his judgement will be deeply fair and satisfying. The ‘fear of the Lord’ ensures that they will be in accordance with the divinely-ordered bases of creation. Such is the Ruler whom we await at Christmas. It was surely these qualities which made Jesus such an attractive and charismatic figure, so that he could, as a wholly unknown stranger, pass those fishermen, and they would drop everything and respond to his call, ‘Follow me’ and all would follow him. 

Confrontation with his personality was shocking and inspiring enough to cure sickness. His simple word gave assurance of forgiveness of sin. His command reduced the elements of nature to serenity. In the second half of the reading we see the consequences, a return to the peace of the Garden of Eden. No more hostility, no more jealousy. Nature, even human nature, will not be red in tooth and claw. This all indicates peace that Jesus brings to us when we receive him with all our hearts; peace where a child can place his finger in the cobras hole and sheep feed with wolves. What peace it is! 

In the Gospel we see one of the prayers of Thanksgiving of Jesus as he thanks God for revealing these things (mysteries of heaven) to the child like; those Jesus chooses to reveal to;  and not to the learned and intelligent. This prayer reveals various aspects.

First Jesus is the only way we can know God and whoever sees and experiences Jesus has really seen and experienced God. Second it shows the intimate relationship which Jesus has with his father which we are also called to. And thirdly it shows us that if we want to know the mysteries of heaven, we need to put on humility and avoid pride. Pride is the mother of all sins and having it is distancing ourselves far from God (see how Lucifer was chased from heaven and became evil because of pride). 

The Gospel points out intellectual pride but there are more examples of pride which we can talk about which distances us from God, for instance riches, social status, egocentric life and others. Brethren, if we want to know and understand God through revelation, we have to be humble as a child (total dependence on God). 

With humility, we shall be able to see Jesus and establish the intimate love with the Trinity. Our eyes are blessed if they see what the disciples saw, namely the Savior Jesus Christ. Our vocation as Christians is a great one; in a way, we have become greater than all the ancient prophets and kings, because we are able to enjoy the privilege of reliving the birth of the Babe Emmanuel in the manger at Bethlehem. Advent is the time of preparation for that solemn moment of Spirit-filled joy. On Christmas morning, let us reverently proclaim with Simeon, “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples” (Luke 2:30-31).

Let us Pray

Jesus, thank you for revealing the Father to me. He is God of heaven and earth, and he has established his plan to save me through your incarnation. Come Lord Jesus, do not delay! Come to me as a little child and reveal to me the love of the Father and the Spirit. Teach me to embrace my vocation to greatness while remaining like a little child who rejoices to imagine your face and hear your word. Amen

Be blessed