REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT 5TH DECEMBER 2023

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT 5TH DECEMBER 2023 

Isaiah 11:1:10; Ps.72; Luke 10:21-24

Our God comes to surprise us

Prior to the prophecy of Isaiah, there was no expectation from the people of a messiah. The best way the Jews of old understood God’s blessings was in terms of what God is able to do for the land. This include granting them victory and giving them resourceful kings. This understanding of God’s blessings on the Land also fueled how they came to understand when God was not happy with them. If they lose at the battle field, then God may not be happy with them. If they get a bad king, then they may be punished by God for their sins. God favours the land of the righteous but punishes the land of the ungodly.

When David reigned as king and ruled like none before him, the people saw it as the best thing God can ever do for them. After David, they never wished for a greater king but simply prayed that consequent kings would imitate David. David became a paradigm. However, in the first reading of today, Isaiah announced the coming of the Messiah.

He will be great on two fronts. One, he will be connected to David, for he shall come forth as a shoot from the stump of Jesse. This does not mean that it is his connection with David that makes him great. No! It only means that he will meet up with the concept of ‘great king’ that the people had in mind. He will great as David.

Furthermore, Isaiah noted some mighty works that shall be accomplished by the coming Messiah. In his days justice shall flourish and great peace forever. These are works that even David could not do. Therefore, the coming messiah will not only be a great as David was, he will be greater than David; he will become the paradigm. To say that God is going to provide someone greater than David for the people means that God is going to bless the people beyond their imagination.

Beloved, God is never limited by our limited conception of him. If we open our hearts to him, he will come with power and enlighten the eyes of our minds. Today, advent is teaching us that our coming to the Lord should not only be motivated by what we think he can do for us. Our thought of him is imperfect and so our approach towards him will be imperfect. Advent is rather teaching us to come to the Lord with open mindedness, surrendering ourselves to him and asking him to do with us as he pleases. Only then can be we surprised by this God.