First Week of Advent
Year I
03rd December 2024 (Tuesday)
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
| First Reading | Isaiah 11:1-10 |
| Response | Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. |
| Gospel | Luke 10:21-24 |
First Reading
Isaiah 11:1-10
On that day, A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbours, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea. On that day, The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, The Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (R. see 7)
R/. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment. R/.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth. R/.
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save. R/.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. R/.
Gospel Acclamation
See Psalm 80:4
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel
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.”
Reflection
Main Point: What makes a life truly great is not its achievements or accolades, but the depth of its surrender to the Spirit and its commitment to God’s mission of love and salvation.
Today’s readings unfold a vision of hope, harmony, and divine wisdom, perfectly embodied in the life of St. Francis Xavier, whose feast we celebrate. Like the shoot from the stump of Jesse in Isaiah’s prophecy, Francis Xavier was a vessel of God’s Spirit, bearing fruits of faith, courage, and missionary zeal.
Isaiah describes a leader upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests—bringing wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, and a deep fear of the Lord. This figure brings peace and justice, where even natural enemies coexist in harmony. In the gospel, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, praising the Father for revealing divine truths to the humble and childlike.
St. Francis Xavier mirrors both these scriptures in his life. He allowed the Spirit to lead him to uncharted lands, dedicating himself to bringing the light of the gospel to those who had never heard of Christ. His humility made him a powerful instrument of God, and his childlike trust in the Father gave him the strength to overcome immense challenges.
Jesus reminds us in the gospel that true greatness lies not in the wisdom of this world but in a heart open to the Father. The “wise and learned” may miss the simplicity of God’s revelation, while the humble and trusting, like Francis Xavier, become witnesses to His kingdom.
Francis Xavier challenges us today to examine our own spiritual journey. Are we allowing the Spirit to guide us? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones, as he did, to bring Christ to others? His life reminds us that mission begins with a personal encounter with Jesus and grows through a heart set on fire by love for souls.
Isaiah’s vision calls us to be agents of peace and reconciliation, breaking barriers and building bridges. In a fractured world, we are called to embody the qualities of the Spirit: wisdom, courage, and reverence. Similarly, the gospel invites us to cultivate humility, embracing the mysteries of God with the simplicity of a child.
Inspired by Francis Xavier, we can see our own potential to be missionaries of hope and joy, even in our small circles. His legacy reminds us that the Spirit equips us to accomplish more than we can imagine when we surrender ourselves to God’s will.
My Action : Like St. Francis Xavier, let us let the Spirit of the Lord rest upon us, empowering us to be vessels of His wisdom, love, and justice. May we trust in the Father’s plans, embrace the simplicity of faith, and carry the light of Christ to all we encounter.
