＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 11:1-10

 From the stump of Jesse a shoot will come forth;

from his roots a branch will grow and bear fruit.   The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him – a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and power, a Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

 Not by appearances will he judge, nor by what is said must he decide, but with justice he will judge the poor and with righteousness decide for the meek. Like a rod, his word will strike the oppressor, and the breath of his lips slay the wicked.

 Justice will be the girdle of his waist, truth the girdle of his loins.  The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will rest beside the kid, the calf and the lion cub will feed together and a little child will lead them.

 Befriending each other, the cow and the bear will see their young ones lie down together. Like cattle, the lion will eat hay. By the cobra’s den the infant will play. The child will put his hand into the viper’s lair. 

 No one will harm or destroy over my holy mountain, for as water fills the sea the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.  On that day the “Root of Jesse” will be raised as a signal for the nations. The people will come in search of him, thus making his dwelling place glorious.

 

Ps 72:1-2, 7-8,12-13,17

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 10:21-24

At that time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to the little ones. 

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, “Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

December is the “Christmas month.” This is the month of great expectations. We hope to receive and we get ready to give. The readings today let us focus on who we expect this Christmas, the Holy Infant, Jesus Isaiah prophesied the coming of a descendant of David, the son of Jesus, one who would be king!

He introduces this future king as a king of Justice and Peace. He would proclaimjustice and establish peace. This king would, however, reign not by the exercise of tyrannical power but by the tenderness of a child!

This child king would mark his reign with the work of reconciliation, of bringing the “wolf” to mingle with the “lamb” and the “lion” with the “calf.” The mission of the childking will be to banish war and bring about peace.

This will happen, the prophet says, when people begin to live with “the knowledge of Yahweh.” This knowledge of the ways of God will become known to those who would know the Son of the Father.

Jesus in the Gospel invites all to become like him, “the little one.” Only those who become childlike can know the will of the Father. This “Christmas month” is learning to become like a child again. After all Christmas is for children!