The first reading today again comes from the Prophet Isaiah. In yesterday’s post there is some background on the prophet and his writings which might prove insightful in this first week of Advent readings. But in today’s reading the messianic hope which began to be expressed in Isaiah 7:14 (Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel) and which was amplified in 9:1–6 (The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone…) comes to full flower.

The Messiah is not merely promised or announced but is depicted as ruling. In place of the kings from the line of David which have proved to be faithless and fickle, in defiance of the empires such as Assyria, these verses describe a king in whose hands the concerns of the weakest will be safe. He will usher in a reign of safety and security to which the weary exiles may come streaming in return.

If we just pause to consider what that means, it points to a time when the ruler will no longer see himself as privileged but rather as responsible, when he will become one for whom his people’s welfare is uppermost. In a word, the ruler will be the servant, not because he is too weak to dominate, but because he is strong enough not to need to crush. Something beyond human capability to implement and sustain, but at the same time, a model for the faithful to follow.

How will we be able to implement and sustain such a posture in our lives?  By the grace of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit:

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
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. (Isa 11:2)

In our age, the Messiah promised and announced to our ancestors in the faith, has come. As the gospel notes, we have been blessed to see and hear the fulfillment of the promises. But one question lingers: is He ruling? Yes – one heart at a time. The question each of us faces every day is whether we are using the gifts of the Spirit received in the Sacraments to act in a responsible, not a privileged way, so that we are ever mindful of the welfare of others.

We have been given the sign in the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus. The great light has shone into our lives. Will we walk in the light?

Image credit: Prophet Isaiah, Mosaic, Right of Lunette, South Wall of Presbytery, Basilica of San Vitale | PD-US | Pexels