Luke 10:21-24

Isaiah 11:1-10

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

Luke 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,

“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

for although you have hidden these things

from the wise and the learned

you have revealed them to the childlike.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.

No one knows who the Son is except the Father,

and who the Father is except the Son

and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said,

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

For I say to you,

many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,

but did not see it,

and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I, too, give you praise today. I praise you for all that you have done in creating the world, in sending your Son to redeem it, and in sending your Spirit to sanctify it and guide it to its final consummation. You are all holy, and I desire to share in your holiness and perfection.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Jesus Fulfills Isaiah’s Prophecy: The First Reading opens with the image of a shoot sprouting from the “stump of Jesse” and the Spirit of the Lord resting upon this shoot. The stump of Jesse was a way of referring to the Kingdom of David. Jesse was David’s father, and David’s kingdom was compared to an olive tree that had been hewn down. This symbolizes how the Assyrians and later how the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans have ruled over the lands of David’s Kingdom for centuries. All that remains of David’s glorious kingdom after the Assyrian and Babylonian assaults is a stump. But the stump, according to Isaiah, is still alive! And, one day, it will put forth a shoot from the stump, a bud from its roots. This shoot is Jesus Christ. And, just as the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David (1 Samuel 16:3), the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Jesus, the Son of David.

2. Peace Among Nations: Isaiah foretells that the spirit-anointed royal descendant of David will establish justice and peace. The poor and afflicted will be judged with justice, while the ruthless and wicked, who have oppressed the poor, will be punished and slain. The images of peace are the images of a restored Eden. The wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid goat, the lion and the calf, the bear and the cow, will dwell together in peace. “Natural enemies becoming friends in the animal world symbolizes tranquil relations among people and nations who prey upon one another like beasts (Isaiah 5:29; 9:12). At the same time, scenes of peaceful coexistence among the earth’s creatures signal a return to the conditions of Eden and thus indicate a reversal of sin’s disruptive effects on the natural order (Romans 8:18-25; Revelation 21:1-4)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Isaiah, 37).

3. Jesus Rejoiced in the Spirit: The Gospel offers us a glimpse into the prayer life of Jesus and his communion with the Father. We can model our prayer on that of Jesus. Jesus begins by praising his Father and acknowledging his lordship over heaven and earth. Jesus prayerfully discerns how God is acting in the world, revealing divine mysteries to the humble and concealing them from the proud. Jesus concludes his prayer by uniting himself to his Father’s gracious will. The Father has sent his Son to reveal who he is, to save his people, and to show how much he loves us. When Jesus is alone with his disciples, he pronounces a blessing upon them and opens their eyes to see how he is the fulfillment of all things. Many a prophet, like Isaiah, and many a king, like David, desired to see the day of God’s Anointed One (Messiah), to experience the day of God’s salvation, and to hear God’s definitive Word. We, like Jesus’ disciples, have received all these blessings.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have revealed the depths of the Father’s love for us. Help me to see all things with the spiritual eyes of faith. Do not let me be discouraged when I fail through sin or see evil around me. I renew my trust in you that you will guide and protect me.

Living the Word of God: How can I imitate the prayer of Jesus today? How can my prayer be guided more by the Spirit? How can I unite my will to God’s will more perfectly? How is God asking me to collaborate with his grace? What sins do I need to ask forgiveness for? What infused virtues do I need most from God?