A Reading from IS 11:1-10
On that day, A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea.
On that day, The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, The Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.
REFLECTION: "On that day, The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, The Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious."
We have started a new Advent Season, and cannot wait for Christmas to get here.
One of my favorite Advent hymns are the so called "O antiphons". These are songs that have been sung by the Church since the eighth century. They are usually sung at Mass, seven days before Christmas. There is one antiphon for each day of that week: December 17th-December 24th.
Each one contains a prayer to God, and a promise. In them we express a longing for God, and God makes a promise to us.
We pray over and over that God will come: teach, redeem, deliver, lead, lighten, and save. We pray that He will be amongst us soon.
It is December 1st of the year 2020. And we long for rest from this year and its tribulations. This year, I believe, we will be awaiting for Christmas in a greater way than we have ever had.
God is coming. He is incarnated in the womb of a virgin, and will celebrate His birthday 24 days from now. How are we preparing a place for Him? Are we prepared for Him?
Let's not be overwhelmed by shopping, decorating, card writing, or keeping up with the Jones's. Let's make a place for Him in our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. And pray for priests in this season of Advent that they are also prepared to receive Him and adore Him with the same reverence our Lady and St. Joseph received and adored the newborn Jesus.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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