Isaiah's Witness to Hope: 2nd Sunday of Advent

            “Brothers and sisters: Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

            St. Paul refers here to the Old Testament.  Indeed, the Old Testament was the only defined Scripture when Paul lived.  It wasn’t like he thought to himself as he wrote to the Romans, “This will be part of the Bible someday.”  Instead, he points back to seek instruction from God’s Word.

            One of the Old Testament books from which we hear often during Advent is Isaiah.  In fact, we have heard from Isaiah during every Mass of Advent thus far.  And rightly so—Isaiah features many prophecies about the coming of Christ. 

Today we heard, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him...”  This might not be an obvious prophecy of Christ, but the Israelites would have immediately thought of the coming Messiah born of David’s line.

And listen to some other prophecies from this great prophet (some will be familiar as they were used in Handel’s Messiah):

·      “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el [God is with us]”;

·      “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined”;

·      “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

Isaiah used the Messianic prophecies as a way to give hope to the Israelites.  They were ripped from their homes, exiled to foreign lands and watched the center of their faith—the temple—destroyed.  These words were met by ears of men and women who were devastated.

Are you going through devastation right now?  If not, imagine one of the most difficult parts in your life.  As you do, listen again to these words of hope from Isaiah:

·      “…a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el [God is with us]”;

·      “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined”;

·      “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’”.

No matter what you may be facing right now, have hope.  Jesus is coming!