Tuesday, December 2 – “A Little Child Shall Lead Them”

Scripture

“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his

roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the

spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. … The wolf

shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and

the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:1–10

Reflection

Isaiah’s vision pierces the gloom of history with hope. From the seemingly lifeless

“stump of Jesse”, a symbol of Israel humbled and cut down, God promises new life. A

tender shoot emerges, a sign that His covenant mercy endures. This Branch, filled with the

Spirit, is Christ Himself: the Prince of Peace whose kingdom reconciles the irreconcilable.

Advent teaches us to look for such divine surprises. God brings life out of

barrenness, peace out of conflict, light out of darkness. What appears as the end becomes,

in His providence, the beginning of redemption. In this Child of Bethlehem, the old order

of violence and division gives way to harmony. The wolf dwells with the lamb; the proud

bow before the meek.

For the EOHSJ, this prophecy holds profound meaning. The Holy Land, the very

soil of Jesse’s lineage and Christ’s birth, remains a place where the world’s tensions meet.

Yet, Isaiah’s vision calls each member to be a bearer of hope, to labor for reconciliation,

and to trust that even amid conflict, God’s kingdom is growing in hidden ways.

The peace of Christ does not come through power or force, but through the

simplicity of a Child. As we prepare for His birth, we are called to cultivate that same spirit

of gentleness, humility, and peace, the fruit of the Spirit that transforms hearts and nations

alike.

Prayer

O Root of Jesse, springing from the soil of our weakness, come and make all things

new. Fill me with Your Spirit of wisdom and peace. Let Your kingdom of harmony begin

in my own heart, and spread through every work of love. Amen.

Meditation Question

Where in my life, community, or world do I see signs of God bringing new life from

what seems barren? How can I become an instrument of His peace?