Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24)
Biblical scholas say that Isaiah probably had another referent
in mind than Jesus of Nazareth for today’s prophecy. They claim that he was probably thinking of
the son of the then current King Ajaz and his wife. Perhaps it is so. However, what Isaiah proposes as a result of
the future king’s birth is nothing less than outrageously miraculous. Christians rightly see the prophecy as
referring to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The gospel shows Jesus’ unique relationship with God. He is the beloved Son who never challenges
the Father’s will. He bears the Holy
Spirit deep in his person so that he can minister to every person’s needs. He is the long-desired of the nations whom
Isaiah glimpsed six hundred years earlier.
In a way Jesus is still on the horizon coming to cure our world’s
troubles. Especially now at the
beginning of Advent we want to prepare ourselves to receive him. With the first Christians we add our voices, “Marana
tha”. “Lord Jesus, come!”
