1st Week of Advent 2022 - Tuesday - Rotting Stump or Fruitful Branch

 

Throughout Advent, we read extensively from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Since Isaiah is such a long book, 66 chapters, the longest of the prophetic books, we really only get to read bits and pieces at Mass. 

Yesterday, we read a passage from chapter 4 of Isaiah. Isaiah foretells how Israel and Judah’s unfaithfulness to God will have some pretty devastating consequences. God’s people, Isaiah explains turned to sorcery & divination like their pagan neighbors (2:6b), so they were embroiled in the occult and pagan religions; they made alliances and covenants with pagans (2:6c); they lusted after financial gain and filled their lives with material things to secure their future instead of trusting in God (2:7), and there would be consequences for these things. 

Violating their covenant with God would bring societal chaos and destabilization. The Jews would would seek out leaders to help stabilize society, but the godless would prove themselves unqualified, mislead the people and set up conditions for anarchy, making the nation vulnerable to their enemies.  the Assyrians—Jerusalem would be sacked and destroyed. 

Isaiah chapters 9 and 10 which proceed today’s reading, speak of not only the devastation of Jerusalem, but of a time when the house of David would be in shambles. And remember, God had made a promise to David, that his descendants would flourish, and from his line would come the king of kings, and Isaiah said, there will be a time when the Davidic line would appear more like a rotting stump than a flourishing royal tree. 

But then, in today’s reading, we read of a glimmer of hope. Isaiah prophesied that God would not forget his people, and that from that rotting stump, would arise a new shoot, a new branch, from which the Messiah would come—a Savior. And unlike those useless corrupt leaders and kings—"The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.”

I don’t know about you, but at times it seems like the political upheaval and societal chaos described by Isaiah hits a little close to home. But Advent calls the faithful, to focus not on the rotting stump, but on the new shoot—to align yourself with Him, to ensure you are grafted upon Him, that you are placing your trust and hopes not in earthly princes or political machinations or material security or occult practices like the unfaithful to whom Isaiah prophecied, but in the wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and holy Fear of the Savior, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

As we await with longing the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, we raise up our prayers of petitions.

That Christ may visit his holy Church and always find her repentant of sin and watchful in prayer.

That Christ may fill the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy with spiritual gifts and graces.

That Christ may guide the minds of those who govern us to promote the common good according to His Holy Will.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.