A TIME OF RECONCILIATION, JUSTICE AND PEACE

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Isaiah 11:1-10

Paul wrote to the Romans that "whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Ro 15:4)

God's word is always a light in our path, filling our hearts with hope and guiding our feet in the ways of love, justice and peace.

The Scriptures are the bearers of a promise of life, liberation and salvation. As we read through its pages, our hearts are illumined and warmed by God's fire of love, bringing a certainty of life and salvation. In a world in despair, walking through darkness, the Scriptures set out a torch of hope, showing God walking along with us and carrying us through the darkness and sufferings of this world to the light and rest of his kingdom.

Isaiah presents in a poetic form God's promise, which is fruit of his plan of salvation:

"The wolf lives with the lamb, 

and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

and a little child shall lead them." (Is 11:6).

There will be reconciliation and peace, harmony and communion. Jealousy, envy and hatred will not dominate the hearts of people anymore. There will be no more injustice, oppression and destruction. God's kingdom will be established and God's glory will shine all over the universe.

At the same time, the word of God is like a sword or, as Isaiah puts it, God "shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth" (Is 11:4).  And we see that very clearly in the boldness and the courage with which John the Baptist challenged both the religious and political leaders of his time?

The word of God denounces our evil plans and evil actions and challenges us to reform and convert. If we refuse to listen and to mend our ways, then the word of God will stand against us in judgement.

We may never take God for granted. He is a merciful God, but his mercy goes hand in hand with with his justice:

"Righteousness shall be 

the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness 

the belt of his loins." (Is 11:5). 

We must realize that we can never bribe God:

"He shall not judge 

by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes 

by what his ears hear,

but with righteousness 

he shall judge the poor, 

and decide with equity 

for the meek of the earth" (Is 11:3-4)

The only way to reach to God's heart is by being merciful and by a daily efort to live in love. When we live by love, we are manifesting God's glory here on earth.