What I’m Thinking: Root of Jesse

We still await the fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision of a truly just ruler and a world at peace.

Here’s a transcript:

I’m not thinking, because I know how grateful I am that Hawai’i’s Conference Minister, the Rev. David Popham, will be visiting Church of the Holy Cross this coming Sunday. David will be preaching. He’ll bring the message, his wisdom, and his abundant spirit. I’m really looking forward to this coming worship service.

But I am joining him in thinking about the eleventh chapter of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1-10). It’s a familiar text, at least a familiar text for Advent. A shoot shall come forth out of Jesse, that is, out of the royal household, and this person will speak with wisdom and truth, will judge with equity for the poor, and indeed the entire nation will see this coming of an extraordinary peace. Much in the way that the 65th chapter of Isaiah would take up the theme some chapters and centuries later, the prophet envisions lions and lambs, wolves and children all playing together. And no-one shall harm anyone on God’s holy mountain.

Well, the sad truth of the matter is that such a ruler has yet pretty much failed to appear in Jerusalem or, for that matter, just about anywhere on Earth, except, Christian believe for Jesus. And Jesus, we must point out, never asserted any claim to any sort of terrestrial, earthly, throne, not even that of Jerusalem.

No, sadly, the days of God’s peace still lie ahead, the days in which the root of Jesse shall produce its great tree in flower. Those are still before us. It is still for us to labor each day for the peace of our households, the peace of our communities, the peace of our world, until the day lion and lamb can relax together in safety.

That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below; I’d love to hear from you.