Our passage from Isaiah today is one of the
most beloved readings of Advent. It is rich in hope and promise, portraying the
coming of a new king from David’s line: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from
the stump of Jesse.”“FIRST IMPRESSIONS”
2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT (A) DEC 7, 2025
Isaiah 11: 1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15: 4-9; Matthew 3: 1-12
By: Jude Siciliano, OP
Dear Preachers:
Our passage from Isaiah today is one of the
most beloved readings of Advent. It is rich in hope and promise, portraying the
coming of a new king from David’s line: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from
the stump of Jesse.”
Isaiah’s image of a stump might well describe the condition of our world today. The news this morning reported that 30,000 women and children have been killed in Gaza, and 1.2 million Gazans have become refugees. The “stump” could also describe some part of our own lives – the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, declining health, a broken relationship. A stump is something cut down, lifeless, and seemingly beyond renewal.
Israel must have appeared like such a stump to the prophet. Her monarchy had failed, and her people were in exile. Yet Isaiah speaks of a new shoot springing forth, symbolizing God’s power to bring life out of ruin. Could God really do that for Israel? It did not seem possible. Can God bring forth a new shoot from the “stump” of our lives?
That is the Advent hope. We wait for God to bring new life into a weary world – and into our own hearts – even in situations that seem hopeless. God has made a promise, and God is a Promise Keeper. The prophet reminds us that the new ruler will not judge by appearances – the usual measure of the world – but with righteousness, defending the poor and striking down oppression. Ours is not a passive waiting, but a longing for the day when all will live in God’s truth and love.
In Advent, the Church becomes both a sign and an instrument of that hope.
Advent is a season of waiting – but not idle waiting. Isaiah’s vision of the shoot springing from the stump of Jesse reminds us that God is always at work, even when life feels barren. Isaiah sees new life pushing through hard, dry ground. He promises that from Israel’s failed kingship, God will raise a new kind of king – one filled with the Spirit, ruling with justice, compassion, and peace.
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist cries out in the wilderness, calling people to prepare the way of the Lord: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He demands an immediate response. We must change to make room for God’s justice.
John is like a gardener turning the soil so that the new shoot Isaiah saw can grow.
The shoot of Jesse grows quietly, but it transforms everything. God’s reign begins in small acts of repentance, mercy, and reconciliation – in the places where we allow the Spirit, who dwells within us, to soften the hardened ground of our hearts. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
Advent is a season of hope – not the shallow kind that merely wishes things would get better, but a deep and quiet trust that God is working even when we cannot see how. We live in a world, both large and personal, that often feels like a field of stumps – war, animosity, moral confusion, and personal loss. These can leave us disheartened. Picture an Advent banner in the sanctuary reading: “God has not finished with us yet.” From what looks barren, God can raise new life.
Can you hear the familiar voice calling to us this Second Sunday of Advent? It is John the Baptist: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight God’s paths.” His cry is urgent and hopeful, reminding us that God’s coming is not far off or abstract. It is near – very near.
But for God’s new life to take root, something must change within us. Advent is not merely a time for decorations and shopping. As good as those things may be, they can also distract us from what truly matters. We must clear away the clutter of our hearts, focus, and make room for Christ to enter.
Notice where we find John today – in the wilderness. In Scripture, the wilderness is the place where God speaks to a wandering people: freed from slavery, yet unsure where they are going. It is there that they learn to depend on God day by day. The wilderness strips away false securities and distractions, teaching the heart to listen.
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings: