Greetings on this the Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Luke 10:21-24
Summary
On that day, The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the peoples— Him the nations will seek out; his dwelling shall be glorious. Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Isa 11:10, Lk 10:23-24)).
Reflection
How do you feel about the Good News? Can we see the signal? Do we seek him out as Isaiah predicted?
Then Jesus, speaking to his disciples, makes this result in an updated version of the question: many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
How do we feel? Can we see him? Can we hear him?
We can use the Psalmist to refire the question — Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17. Can we hold up the Church (and myself) to the standard set by the King?
Promote Justice
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
Promote Peace
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Aid the Poor and Afflicted
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
Bless the Nations
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
Personal Reflection
In all my Advent waiting do I see and Hear the Good News – the Messiah?
In all my Advent waiting do I see and Hear him – the person?
If I am a part of the Church, I am not boasting, pass through the four tests of the Royal Psalm 72, then I can say I have seen and heard him, Messiah, King, Prophet. Psalm 72 is the final Davidic Royal Psalm.
Otherwise, it’s just a fairy tale.
- Do I promote Justice?
- Do I promote peace?
- Do I aid the poor and afflicted?
- Do I bless the nations?
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120225.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry