Breaking the Word

First Week of Advent, Tuesday – 5^th December 2023 – Isaiah 11,1-10; Luke 10,21-24

Forthcoming Messiah

The first reading speaks about the certain characteristics of the Reign of God. This messianic poem describes the principal features of the coming Messiah: he is of Davidic stock; he will be filled with the spirit of the prophets who went before him; and he will establish a society reflecting peace and harmony of God himself. The reading brings out beautifully the portrait of Jesus, although he was not in the mind of the prophet when this was written. Instead, it is a description of a future kingdom of peace. Jesse was the father of David, and Jesus came through the Davidic line. He was endowed with the beautiful gifts of the Spirit – the Spirit of God is seen operative throughout biblical history. The Spirit came down on Jesus as he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan. With Jesus, the new Reign will be as great or even greater than at the ‘perfect’ time of Adam and Eve, when even the animals were not at odds with each other. It will be a time of God’s justice and peace being extended to all nations and to all creation.

First Week of Advent, Monday – 4^th December 2023 – Isaiah 2,1-5; Matthew 8,5-11

Being Witnesses of Hope

In the first reading, Isaiah gives a lovely prophecy, in which he sees what Jerusalem will be like in the future. He gives us the glimpse of God’s rule in the Temple and on the holy mountain. It is also a pre-figurement of the Reign of Heaven. The people of Israel had been ruled by human kings who had led them down the wrong paths to sinful ways. They wanted God to establish the divine rule again. With God’s reign dwelling among them, the people were expecting to live in peace as God would judge the nations. There, the implements of war would be turned into instruments of food production, benefitting all. This message of Isaiah is quoted outside the United Nations building in New York: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more – Isaiah.” As we face the continuation of the war in various places on our planet, and violent terrorism, and have soldiers fighting and dying throughout the world, we, as Christians, need to implant hope in the world that God wishes to work for peace and we continue to symbolize the coming Reign of Heaven until the end of time.