Isaiah 11:1-10

Jesse was the father of King David. Isaiah was looking forward with great hope and expectation to the coming of a king endowed with the gifts of the Spirit to establish peace and with a care for the poor. Isaiah looked to a kingship that would restore harmony even to the natural world, restoring the Garden of Eden where "the wolf would dwell with the lamb" and "the nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra."

Romans 15:4-9

The reading speaks of hope through the endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures and expresses the hope that through the God of endurance and encouragement we may live in harmony with one another and that we may welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us.

Matthew 3:1-12

Dressed like Elijah and preaching in the wilderness, John the Baptist's message is clear and direct, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." His call to repentance leads to a baptism of repentance in the same Jordan river through which Israel passed on the way to the promised land. With that repentance, there must be a commitment to produce good fruit. The Baptist then speaks of the one who is coming after him who is mightier than he is. His picture of Jesus is fierce. That hardly prepares the reader for Jesus who would imitate the Servant of Isaiah, who would not "bawl or shout."

Short Reflection

The reference to the "stump of Jesse" brings to mind the forlorn sight of the stump of the tree cut down in the Sycamore Gap by Hadrian's Wall. But there are signs of hope; saplings are growing! Surely, hope is the keynote of the reading from Isaiah which ends with a vision of paradise restored.

John the Baptist emerging from the wilderness calls us to repent of the wilderness in our lives, to prepare a way for the Lord by seeking forgiveness for our sins.

Then, at a time of year when we can feel pressured, we can live with hope and expectation. We can live in harmony with one another and welcome one another because Jesus is near to us.

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“Advent has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.” Roman Missal Universal Norms, para. 39

How might this be reflected in our liturgies? Décor, music, preaching?

DOMESTIC LITURGIES: Why not have a small Advent wreath or candle, or explore the ancient tradition of the Jesse Tree (see today’s First Reading and the Genealogy of Jesus in St Matthew’s Gospel, ch.1). There is a magnificent stone Jesse Tree above the altar in Christchurch Priory. Why not make an Advent visit?

The first readings for Sundays of Advent in Year A are from Isaiah. They point to the Messiah and his kingdom. They are chosen to orient the birth of Jesus in the context of Jewish expectation. For a concise treatment of prophecy, see CCC para. 702-720. See also today’s Second Reading. Readers, please make sure you know the difference between “prophesy” (verb) and “prophecy” (noun); they are often mispronounced.

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Note: These hymns have been chosen from the Laudate hymnbook:

94, On Jordan's bank

883, Christ be our light

662, O bread of heaven

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Please also refer to Advent Sunday 2, Laudate, especially numbers 83, 92, 96, 97 and 108

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