Walking with Jesus: Second Sunday of Advent

For Sunday, December 4, 2022

Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-9, Matthew 3:4-12

Here’s an Advent reflection: When did I start dreaming of what my life would be when I grew up? I thought I would make a wonderful cowboy. But when I went to a large farm outside of Syracuse to spend the weekend with my older sister’s college friend, my dream quickly shattered.

First, I had to learn how to be a farmer and milk cows. The farmer wanted to teach me “farm life,” so I tried to milk the cows by hand. They didn’t like this. I got far more milk on the ground than in the bucket, and I soon learned painfully that a cow uses its tail as a weapon when you do it wrong.

Next I was told I could ride the horse. So I decided to take a long run up from behind and mount just like Gene Autry did. The horse acknowledged my imitation mount with its back hoofs, rewarding my effort with one severely sprained ankle.

So my cowboy dream was gone, but new dreams came in its wake. I liked being an altar server and really enjoyed our four parish priests. They were friendly, liked kids and enjoyed what they were doing, showing it by the way they prayed and celebrated mass. They had upbeat personalities and talked clearly about God to an 11-year-old. The seeds were planted early. I am grateful.

In today's passage from Isaiah, the Israelites realize they are special to the Lord but they don't know what that means. They need to be open and understand more clearly their purpose as being God’s chosen people. No matter how slow they are to learn and reform, God will never give up on them. What will their future be? Isaiah has been prophesying for years that they will turn their lives to the Lord and be His people. He instructs them in God’s love, mercy, care and forgiveness.  He encounters much opposition from the royal house.

Today the prophet looks to an ideal future age when a descendant of David will at last cooperate with God’s plan. The people envision different types for God’s ruler: one to kick out the foreign invaders, another to bring an era of peace and prosperity, another to unite the different tribes and factions, and another to be recognized among the world powers. All different “I have a dream” visions. Isaiah’s vision brings to mind the Garden of Eden. Will his dream be possible? It is interesting to see that this prophet is showing us how the dream will be accomplished: by the Holy Spirit. Isaiah predicts the Spirit’s gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Isaiah is promising God’s kingdom, a kingdom of peace and spiritual prosperity. These are gifts still given consistently by the Holy Spirit so that each of us can lead others to the Lord in faithfulness and gratitude. This can be our daily Advent reflection: The gifts of the Holy Spirit have been given to each of us individually. This is God’s plan. Am I using this season to delve deeper into living God’s life, or am I giving in to the distractions of Christmas and gifts for me?

St. Paul expands on this subject by urging us to strive for the kind of balance and blending of the unique gifts that are each of ours to proclaim and live God’s promise of everlasting life for all. In our affluent society, it is very easy to keep wanting more and more. Christmas can be a distractor. But it also can be a time to show encouragement and Jesus’ consistent examples of living His life as seen in the gospel writers.  

In Matthew's gospel, John the Baptist tells the people They Have to Reform. Their lives are a mess. The Day of the Lord is coming very soon. He calls the people to repentance for their evil. Repentance here means a radical change. Matthew describes the location, clothing, diet and action of John in a way that recalls Elijah. The people are expecting Elijah to return before the coming of the Day of the Lord.  Now, the salvation spoken about is not something one inherits by belonging to a certain “right” group. The Pharisees and Sadducees certainly feel theirs is the “in group,” but they fail to put the Torah and the works of the law into practice. John says one is coming … we know this is Jesus. Have we been aware of Jesus? John addresses it directly: Repent. Many will regard this as a dirty word: “What are you accusing me of? I try to be good. I try to help those whom I can. What more can I do?” But the word does remind us that our lives are not where they are supposed to be. We have fallen short of being Jesus’ disciples of love. We have fallen into patterns of self-absorption and various addictions. Advent is for you and me today. God gives us His grace each day. Am I listening and reforming ME? We pray to the Lord for His Mercy and Help.

So I reflect on:

• Like the people of Isaiah’s time, I wait for the full realization of Jesus’ presence. I think of broken relationships, destructive habits, struggles, abuse of God’s creations ... so that I can become open to God’s mercy, forgiveness and love.
• Sometimes I spend so much time in waiting. This just stifles the initiative that always has been part of my life: God’s gentle nudges for me to go out and love.

Sacred Space 2023 states:

“I may feel uncomfortable when confronted with John’s call to repentance, but I let myself listen, acknowledging that I am a sinner in need of God’s mercy. If I cannot admit this, Advent is not for me.”

St. John Henry Newman’s Christmas Prayer

“May each Christmas, as it comes, find us more and more like Him, who at this time became a little child for our sake, more simple-minded, more humble, more holy, more affectionate, more resigned, more happy, more full of God.”