Tuesday of the First
Week in Advent
(Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24)
A woman once described how she could no longer watch nature films
on television. Viewing the drama of a
killer whale chasing a smaller whale and her calf left her permanently disgusted. She said that the film crew followed the
predator stalking mother and calf for hundreds of miles. Then it recorded the killer whale separating
the two before making its kill. The visual
experience was so jarring that the woman now dreads the sight of animals
preying on one another.
We may think that original sin has caused alienation between
humans and God and among other humans, but the transgression has even wider
effect. The sin of Adam and Eve is said
to have imperiled relationships among animals as well and, really, among all beings
of creation. For this reason Paul writes
the church in Rome, “...creation waits with eager expectation the revelation of
the children of God” (Rom 8:19).
In the first reading the prophet Isaiah strikingly
illustrates how the alienation is about to end.
A ruler shall come from the line of King David who will restore original
justice. He will cast out evil and lift
up the oppressed. His actions will teach
everyone fear of the Lord, the lack of which characterizes the present state of
universal victimization. Proof of the
new reign of justice will be found when the most vicious of animals fraternize
with the most defenseless. We see this
prophecy’s fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
As today's gospel indicates, he brings knowledge of God the Father to all
who care to listen. He humbles the
arrogant and lifts up the lowly. With
his expected return in glory soon, peace will reign everywhere.
