Dear Friends,
The season of Advent aims to prepare us for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.
One path of preparation is through the readings at Mass, some of which speak of how Israel awaited a messiah.
Today’s first reading from the Book of Isaiah is a case in point: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom” (11:1).
Jesse was the father of David, and the chosen people were hoping for a new branch to sprout from the tree of the Davidic line.
But there were doubts as to whether the tree was still around. Was it gone for good?
No. That is why the Book of Isaiah spoke of the stump. Sprouts can emerge from a stump, even when all seems hopeless. The Davidic line was not lost, for its root ran deep.
It’s like that with the Church, too. When things seem down, when the stump seems barren—suddenly, a new sprout springs up.
A sprout can appear in different forms at various times.
It could be in the form of young people who show a growing interest in the faith.
Or it could be in the form of pockets of young families whose children bring a welcome buzz to parish pews on a Sunday.
The sprouts of revival are all around us. We just need to do our part so that the Holy Spirit can fan the flames of faith, hope and charity.
To foster your own spirit of hope, consider praying with the help of one of our Retreat Guides for Advent.
Think of it as a way to nurture the sprouts that will someday lead to a rich harvest.
In Christ,
Father Edward McIlmail, LC
