Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Videos of toddlers and cute puppy dogs at play never fail to get your attention.
The Prophet Isaiah is riveting our attention today with images of innocence and impossible relationships. What is the message behind pairing up the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the young goat, the calf and the lion, the bear and the cow, and perhaps most shocking, the toddler playing at the cobra’s den? These images seem extreme and stretch our imagination.
Can we not say that one expectation coming out of Advent announcing the coming of the Lord is conquering and transforming our deepest fears? It’s more than self-control but rather being transformed by grace to reach a new level of trust. This can change past behaviors of aggression and defense. The shocking images of Isaiah challenge the people to imagine a new way of living. It involves healthy and safe relationships in a society responding to God’s love and plan in their lives. That’s really stepping outside the box.
It is the same for the people sitting at the feet of Jesus today in the Gospel. If they choose to follow Jesus they will be expected to make a radical shift in attitude and response. It matches the image of a child with their openness and humility. This becomes the key to unlocking this year’s Advent gift. The Advent expectation of something new and different may in fact turn out to be the challenge of choosing childlike trust and delight. Do we have the courage to pray for that?
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Advent, Daily Reflections