On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:10
This verse of Isaiah is positioned between two sections of chapter 11. The first part describes a shoot of Jesse growing from the roots of a stump. Life shall spring forth from what appears dead and the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon this person or “shoot” who will be an amazing combination of the Good Shepherd with the Mighty Counselor.
Then we arrive at verse 10, which transitions us to how this shoot of Jesse will be a signal to the nations, coming to establish love, peace, and justice to the earth – to all of humanity, the animals, and creation itself. God will continue to redeem and claim, to call the remnants, the distanced, and the outcasts. ALL people are called back to God no matter how unlikely or far off they may seem. Hostility, jealousy, and division shall end too. What a relief that must be!
Today, we look around and see wars raging, violence in schools, and unease spreading. Perhaps worse, we see envy, competition, and isolating, do-it-alone attitudes in our churches. These words of Isaiah written thousands of years ago remind us that others have faced these same evil things. It is hard to know if it is comforting to know we are not alone, or if it is profoundly discouraging, wrestling with the fact that violence has persisted for millennia. For all our modern talk of progress, international interdependence, and so-called enlightenment, it does not sound like we have made much progress at all. When will this signal finally ring in this new era of harmony?
Jesus is our signal. Jesus taught, healed, and loved in ways that showed a new way to live. While violence did not cease as Jesus suffered a terrible death on the cross, death and violence did not have the last say. Jesus did not lash out in retaliation; instead, the power of love lived into a resurrection dawn. The Holy Spirit remains with us, empowering us to live in these new ways. We, too, have the power to choose love over hate, kindness over greed, forgiveness over resentment. We experience these Jesus-signals in the breaking of bread, in acts of kindness, in moments of reconciliation, and in so many other ways each day. May this Advent season be a signal to live in the power of God’s unfailing love.
O God of all peoples, we long for your peace – both inside our souls and outside our homes. Signal us to participate in your breathing of justice and love upon all nations, near and far, until we can live in harmony with you and one another. Amen.
Deacon Kat Tigerman is Director of Evangelical Mission for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA.
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