Third Week of Advent: Gospel of Peace

 A bruised reed

   he will not break. (Isaiah 42:3)

When Jesus’ enemies “conspired against him to destroy him;” he ducked away to avoid confrontation. Matthew points out that Jesus’ avoidance of violence fulfills what was spoken by the Prophet Isaiah (Mt 12 quoting Isa 42):

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen,

   my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

   and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

He will not wrangle or cry aloud,

   nor demonstrate in the streets.

He will not break a bruised reed

   nor quench a smoldering wick…

In his name the Gentiles will hope.

We, like those who first encountered Jesus, are at times disappointed by Jesus’ meekness. Shouldn’t he be more like Caesar and confront his enemies with power and domination? But, as Isaiah prophesied, Jesus will bring about a different kingdom—a kingdom of meekness and non-violence that will in time win, even over Caesar. That’s why we do not celebrate Christmas with fireworks.

Fireworks for the fourth of July, but not for Christmas. Christmas celebrates a different kind of King and a different kind of kingdom.