Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

Readings of the day: RB 53:16-24

Mass: Isaiah 11:1-10; Resp. Psalm 72; Luke 10:21-24

JUSTICE SHALL FLOURISH IN HIS TIME,

AND FULLNESS OF PEACE FOREVER.

(Resp. Psalm 72)

The beauty of the imagery presented to us through the Prophet Isaiah. I thought to consider today’s reading in two contexts: first, what would the scene described by Isaiah look like in regard to my attitude towards and daily interactions with others at home, work, in community, while shopping, studying, or going about my daily activities; second, read in conjunction with St Benedict’s chapter 53, ‘The Reception of Guests’, how might Isaiah’s words affect how I encounter a stranger.

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 with 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.

MARANATHA.