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Dear Parishioners, I hope the following meditation from a booklet by Elsie H. McGrath will help you benefit from the Season of Advent. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, for your great faith; Isaiah prophesies a messianic figure; one who will bring peace to the land. This king will be different, since kings traditionally executed cruel revenge against their enemies. He will grow out of the root of Jesse - he will be of the House of David. Seen as a prediction of the Christ-Messiah, this passage inspired the Church to celebrate the Advent season with the Jesse Tree. Its symbolism roots us irrevocably in the family of Abraham, a people uniquely God’s own. John the Baptist quotes Isaiah (40:3), and also prophesies a messianic figure who will bring peace to the land. His appearance and manner of living recall the prophet Elijah, who was expected to return before the coming of the Lord. John’s pronouncement contains many messages, beginning with Jesus’ very own message: "The kingdom of God has come near." John ominously warns that all must receive the baptism of repentance before they can be a part of that kingdom; being the children of Abraham guarantees them nothing. Perhaps the message of John the Baptist is one we need to take more essentially into our hearts this Advent. Jesse Tree notwithstanding, we must "bear fruit worthy of repentance." Sincerely, |
