Isaiah (11:1-10) brings the root of Jesse image to us again. The picture is from a Google collection of images for Root of Jesse. In his writings, Isaiah puts before us the ideal king of Israel. This king would come from Jesse, the father of King David.Ideal leadership is exercised by one who is open to the ever-creating Spirit of God. This kind of leader attracts followers because of his/her gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength and knowledge. Most specially, leadership of this magnitude is marked by the exercise of justice. It is the kind of justice that leads to the idyllic scene painted by Isaiah in the final verses of this reading: wolf and lamb, calf and young lion, cow and bear, baby and cobra --- these "natural enemies" shall live on the mountain of the Lord where this kind of leadership occurs.
So, for you and me, what can we take from this writing? Again, go back to the invitation of Sunday's readings. We are call, "Come, come to the mountain of the Lord." We are invited to be leaders in so many circumstances each day: at work, at home, at lunch, at dinner, with family, with friends, with colleagues. If we focus upon our relationship with the Lord during the days of Advent, we can open our horizons to the very ideals Isaiah puts forth for a good king: justice, peace and harmony. Is there anyone of us who could not incorporate more of each of these virtues into our interaction with colleages, family and friends?
