Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Tuesday of the First Week of Advent


Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

Readings for Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent

Commentary:

Reading 1 Is 11:1-10

Isaiah predicts that the line of David will produce the Messiah with the first verse; stump of Jesse, Kind David’s father. He follows to list for the first time in scripture the seven (note, the reference to fullness in Hebrew numerology – 7 the perfect number) gifts of the Holy Spirit[1]. In the Septuagint and the Vulgate read "piety" for fear of the Lord.

He follows this list with a list of the just and compassionate characteristics of the messianic rule and then a picture of universal peace under the messiah’s rule.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

This hymn extols the virtuous characteristics of justice and compassion we heard in the reading from Isaiah. Listed again in David’s literature, the pattern of today’s scripture is pointing to the rue of Jesus, of the line of David, Jesse’s stump, the messiah and king of the age to come.

Gospel Lk 10:21-24

Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit because his disciples have understood his role of Messiah in the kingdom. He restates his relationship as Son of God (“No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.") The inference here is that we must approach that faith with “childlike” faith and trust in order to achieve that level of understanding.

Reflection:

The scripture today reveals the role of “Messiah” that will result from the Nativity we anticipate in this, our Advent Season. We see Isaiah predict his lineage once more, the Lord comes from the line of David, whose kingdom ended in 971 BC. He is the Stump of Jesse’s Tree, Jesse being the father of King David. Isaiah gives us today the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that created in Christ the perfect king and gifts to which we aspire.

In our Gospel, the Lord speaks through St. Luke telling us that; “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” He has revealed himself to us through his Father’s will that sends him. In childlike faith we are called to accept him; to receive him.

Continuing our analogy of preparation for a new arrival, let’s move from the walls of the “baby’s room” now glowing with the warmth of our prayers to the floor. What better analogy for the floor of this space where the Lord will stay than the foundation which is our faith. Faith is a free gift of the one we prepare to receive. As such one might think, “ there is nothing that I can do about it.” Faith is a gift, but like any living gift it can grow and mature. Like any living gift it must be fed and watered. It was watered in our Baptism and is fed by the grace that flows from the sacraments and our acceptance of them. This day – let us pray for a deeper faith and pledge to feed it as often as possible with childlike attendance to its needs. Doing so will cover the foundation of our room with lush deep carpet to keep the baby warm and safe.

Pax

[1] From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1831 “The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.

Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”

No comments: