Second Sunday of Advent
Whether we formally call it a “vision” or not, each one of us has a vision. For example, when a couple gets married, they imagine life to go a certain way. They have a vision. When a child is born, parents imagine how they would like the child to grow up. They have a vision. When someone gets a new job, they imagine how the new role brings meaning and purpose to life. In very simple terms, a vision is how we think something should go long-term, and the effort we put to make it happen. Vision allows us to have a plan and then put our effort into making the vision a reality. Without a vision, we have nothing to look forward to.
The season of Advent reveals a vision. Its about God’s vision for humanity. Advent is a time when we connect with God’s vision for the world. After all, it is God’s world. In three points, I would like to reflect upon this vision and the effort we make to bring that vision to reality.
1. God’s Vision for Jesus. Today’s first reading begins with the words: “On that day….” There is not better way to talk about vision than the words, “On that day….” What about “On that day?” “On that day,” God envisions through Isaiah, “a shoot shall spring from the stem of Jesse.” Jesse was king David’s father. The shoot Isaiah refers to is Jesus since Jesus was of the family of Jesse. On that day… On that day, when Jesus comes, “the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, (Is 11:6-8). On that day… the world will look different that it is now. This is a powerful vision. Jesus came to make God’s vision a reality.
2. Our Invitation. The new vision coming into reality requires human cooperation. In today’s first reading, Isaiah also talks about the effort that must go into making God’s vision a reality. First of all, “the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him [Jesus]: 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.” If you notice, this very spirit rests upon those who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. In other words, the very spirit that rested upon Jesus with the gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord, rests upon each one us who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. In fact, as the gospel tells us, Jesus has baptized us with the Holy Spirit and fire. If this is true, then God’s vision for each one of us is to replicate what Jesus was and did for the world. God vision becomes a reality because we cooperate with God. There are two dangers to avoid: the danger to draw a vision contrary to God’s vision; and, the danger to work contrary to God’s vision. For example, when our vision for our families, our parish, our country or our world exclude gospel values, then, we draw a vision very different than God’s. The danger of working contrary to God’s vision is also real. In our families and in our world, when we fail to work for reconciliation, peace, goodness, compassion, and love, then we work contrary to the vision revealed by Isaiah in today’s first reading. Here is the practical implication of this point: Advent is a time for us to align our vision with God’s vision for us and for the world. Not to do so is the hamper God’s vision from becoming a reality.
3. Advent: A time to Produce “Good Fruit.” How can we bring God’s vision to fruition? The gospel reading gives us the path. There were people coming to John the Baptist. He called them “ brood of vipers.” These were people working contrary to God’s vision. The no-nonsense John lays out God’s vision for them and the effort they must put into make God’s vision take reality. “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” Here, then, is what Advent is all about - producing good fruit. Wherever Jesus went, the ripple effect was good. Wherever he went, he only brought hope, comfort, life, and good. Yes, there were people who felt uncomfortable in his presence - the proud, the arrogant, the mighty, the corrupt. But his own actions only produced comfort and hope. The Spirit of God given to us must bear fruit in us. Let us produce good fruit as evidence of our repentance.
We are not only given the Holy Spirit but in the Eucharist was are also given the Body and Blood of Christ. With Christ in our heart, let us produce good fruit as evidence of our repentance.
Fr. Satish Joseph