Isaiah 11: 1-10
Matthew 3: 1-2
Second Sunday of Advent (A)

Judah was not the peaceable kingdom when Isaiah wrote of his utopian vision of peace where the wolf lies down with the lamb, the leopard lies down with the kid, and the calf, lion, and fattling are together. No it was not like this in Judah.� This tiny kingdom, established on ancient eastern trading routes, was always under threat from whichever surrounding power in ascendancy.� Isaiah lived at a time when Judah was under imminent� threat from the growing Assyrian empire who destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel and came right to the gates of Jerusalem.

In the midst of threats and war, Isaiah writes words of hope for God�s people.� A shoot will come from what seems to be the dead tree stump - a leader on whom God�s spirit will rest.� This leader� will not only come from David�s line, but will also be of David�s heart - committed to justice, righteous, and peace.� This ruler will give regard to the poor and the meek, ruling with a perception that goes beyond the senses of seeing and hearing. This leader will preside over fundamental changes to the violent cultures of the earth, including beasts in the wilderness.� This coming age will be so peaceful that even the most vulnerable children will wander in the wilderness as safe as if nestled in a mother or father�s arms.� A child will lead in this new reign of God, moving all to act on behalf of what is just.

Isn�t this what all hope for - a world where there are