Had enough of 2020 yet? This year certainly has been the most upside down, topsy-turvy, uncertain and unexpected as I can ever remember. It’s like swimming in the Ocean against the waves. I feel like a kid with a bully on top of me making me cry out uncle. UNCLE already.
As a people, nation and community we have continued to face an unseen virus and its consequences— it seems to mirror another disease with which we continue to struggle: Injustice and racism. Marches and protest erupt out of the angst of inequality and disparity. Anger and Frustration come from not being included and heard. No mask can protect a person or community from that reality.
The First Reading from today’s liturgy comes from the Prophet Isaiah. The prophet paints a picture of JUSTICE. If injustice is the disease, the Messiah is the cure. He shall embody everything desired by the poor, afflicted, downtrodden, those who are the focus of gossip and derision. Tough justice …but not just that. This long awaited Messiah will also bring harmony, peace. Messiah will not only bring justice—with his coming is restoration.
Read it for yourself! Believe it!
On that day. A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
ASpirit 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.
Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then 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, as water covers the sea.
On that day, The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, The Gentiles shall seek out,for his dwelling shall be glorious.
