Reading I
Is 11:1-10
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Rom 13:11-14
Lk 10:21-24
My reflection:
This is my first time to read through the readings of the day and make my own reflection of the readings. It is unusual for lay Catholics to do the commentary of the daily readings. This attempt is for my own purpose. I want to test my own comprehension of the mind of the church when she chose these particular readings of the day.
I believe the readings are intended to support the Liturgical Season that has just begun last Sunday. The season of Advent is the celebration of Jesus’, the Son of God, coming to the world. But, the church does not only celebrate in grateful remembrance the coming of Jesus more than Two Thousand years ago in Bethlehem. The church also celebrates in joyful hope the second coming of the Risen Christ. Moreover, the church is constantly aware of and worships the presence of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, in the here and now who is guiding, protecting and inspiring the church on her journey in faith. These three-fold comings of Jesus in the life of the church and the individual believer are well-crafted in the selection of the readings for the whole season.
Today’s first reading from the Book of Isaiah announces the coming of the Messiah who is like David but better than him. Isaiah suggests that the coming Messiah will be a new David – an Emmanuel. In him the “Spirit of God” will always dwell: A spirit of wisdom and intelligence, as with Solomon; a spirit of prudence and strength, as with David; and a spirit of knowledge and respect for the Lord, as with Moses and the Patriarchs. The coming Messiah-King will be God’s delegate, attentive to the poor, and he must receive the Spirit, or Breath of God for his endeavor. It is an integral liberation of the person. God’s work that saves persons demands the repression of the oppressors and ruling in fear of the Lord. It would be an illusion to think that with Christ the longing for justice is over. A liberation theologian put it well: “The love and forgiveness that Jesus proclaims are at the service of the salvation of mankind through truth, justice and shared food.” And this renewal and reconciliation of God’s people will be made manifest in nature.
In Psalm 72, the joyful manifestation of the King of Justice who defends the rights of the poor, frees the humble, helps the weak and feeds the hungry, is being pictured. Though we may not achieve here below the kingdom described, we Christians must work on and discover the signs of the coming of the Kingdom as humankind moves toward its unification while longing for justice and peace for all men and all nations.
The gospel of Luke paints the fulfillment of the Old Testament’s longing. The seventy or seventy-two disciples returned from their mission work full of joy of having surpassed oneself, and having believed and worked with the very power of Jesus. Filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives thanks for them whom he considered as the “little ones”. Jesus underlines the defeat of Satan, the prince of lies, of false freedom and of oppression. In contrast with those who are claiming to be knowledgeable yet do not believe in Jesus, the little ones are those humble believers who have everything if they have Jesus because everything has been given to Him by the Father. The little ones are those who “live their faith in simple ways but they know that none of their sacrifices are lost. It is Jesus who reveals the Father to them, and knowing him in truth, they also share in his control over events.” If we live like the “little ones”, our desires and our prayers are powerful because we have come to the center from which God directs the forces saving humankind: because we work for eternity, our names are already written in heaven.” The little ones of the Old Testament were “swerte”, those who lived during the time of Jesus are “mas swerte”, but we who lived now are “pinaka-swerte”. We should stop being envious of famous people of the past, we who are alive now have been given a better part, as Jesus said to the doubting Thomas: “More blessed are they who do not see yet believed.”
Also St. Paul urges us believers to live holy and responsible lives because by doing so we hasten the coming of the Kingdom of God.
Have a Blessed Advent!
