Image Become Reality

First Week of Advent - Tuesday

Isaiah 11:1-10 / Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 / Luke 10:21-24

Image-Become-Reality

In the reading from Isaiah we find the classic imagery that graces so many Christmas cards: the peaceful reconciliation of predator and prey in the animal kingdom. One can purchase tandem stuffed animals: a lamb lying in the embrace of a larger lion’s paws. Natural enemies have become cordial neighbors.

As an image-become-reality what would this mean for our world?

What would it mean for Hindu-Muslim tensions in India and Pakistan?

What would it mean for Iraq, Iran and the United States?

What would it mean for the environmental crisis?

What would it mean for Israel and Lebanon?

What would it mean for our economy?

What would it mean for our families?

Perhaps the most shocking of the images in this passage from Isaiah is that of the snake in a crib among a child’s blanket, pillow and toys. What caring parent would allow this? I have yet to see a rendition of this in artwork. Yet the blossoming of the shoot of Jesse will make worrying about such a peril a non-issue. We won’t even have to worry about the safety of our defenseless children. What a world indeed! May the Kingdom come!

What will turn the carnivorous, blood-lusting lion into a vegetarian whose idea of a feast has gone from gazelles to bales of hay? Knowledge of the Lord. When everyone knows the Lord, knows God’s unconditional embrace beyond a flinch of doubt, this peaceable kingdom will be established. When ignorance of God’s love is banished by the familiarity of divine friendship, there shall be no more harm, or ruin, or threat thereof. When knowledge of God is as complete as the image of droplet of water upon droplet of water upon droplet of water… that forms the ocean, then we shall be living in this kingdom. But until then, what?

Until then this kingdom is being revealed little by little. The kingdom is being revealed in Jesus: in his parables, and in his flesh. It is this revelation which we revisit in the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The curtain is being pulled back in this season as the days grow shorter and the light diminishes. But to see it we must use our imagination, and conjure a scene of nature reordered and at peace — all enmity set aside. If we can dream it, we can do it – in faith.

·   Contemplate the scene of peaceful reconciliation that Isaiah describes. Can you sit still and allow natural predator and prey to mingle together? What feelings and thoughts arise as you reflect on this image?

·   Call to mind any artwork you have seen depicting this scene. Is this scene realistic to you? What would need to happen for it to come about?

·   Whether you consider this realistic or not, what are you inspired to do in response to Jesus who fulfills this prophecy, and whose coming we await in these days of Advent?

·   What relationship in your life is a lion-lamb situation? How does this prophecy help you to see the relationship differently?