Isaiah, in the 1st reading of today’s mass, gives a description of the future messiah, First. His military attire describes him as warrior, ready to take on enemies, “slay the wicked”. We might forget that ‘sweet Jesus’ must have been a pretty tough guy, taking on money changers in the temple and, after a severe loss of blood, carrying a heavy cross through the streets up to the mount of his crucifixion.
Second. The distraction of all of those animals – the wolf, lamb, leopard, kid, cobra – and what they are going to do can be a distraction. What Isaiah means is the future messiah will re-establish society as it had been before the sin of Adam destroyed it. Third. The result: the teachings of the Savior will set up “a signal for the nations,” a call to present-day members of the Church; to others; to me to recognize who he was, born on the first Christmas day.
Today’s Gospel also invites us to have the mind of children, that is love, faith and dependence on this Messiah, whose birth the Advent season prepares us to reflect upon and celebrate.
Resolve: I shall ask Mary and Joseph, the witnesses of Christ’s birth, to guide me and those for whom I pray, for a deeper knowledge and love for Jesus.