Hopeful Poetry of Advent

A new liturgical cycle in the Church starts Sunday, as does Advent, a season of preparation, expectation and hope. Ancient longings for rescue from daily sufferings and anticipation of a new kingdom are reflected in some of the greatest ancient poetry available in the Book of Isaiah. The daily and Sunday Mass readings of Advent contain much poetry from the Book of Isaiah which is still meaningful today. The Prophet Isaiah’s poetry tells of the coming Messiah who will rescue the plighted from sufferings and establish a new kingdom to satisfy all wants.

The poetry and narratives in the Book of Isaiah come from a period of unrest in the history of Israel, seven centuries before the birth of Jesus. It was a time of war and sparring for dominion in the land, and historically a time when Judah was under attack, and even siege; new kings and alliances came and went. Isaiah’s hopes for reforms and a new kingdom were not realized then, but Isaiah maintained visions of a coming Messiah. A new dawning utopia was the subject of his verses, as was the need for the suffering peoples to adhere to ethical principles in the light of His coming.

The Book of Isaiah is the first of the 18 “prophetic books” of the Old Testament. Of historical interest, it is believed that the Book of Isaiah was composed by at least three different “Isaiah’s”, with Chapters 1-6 composed by the original Isaiah, Chapters 40-55 by a Second Isaiah, and Chapters 56-66 by a Third Isaiah. The subsequent Isaiah’s wrote in a style and spirit reflective of the original author and thus are bundled together as one in the Book of Isaiah.

The Book of Isaiah uses refrains that, at that time, resonated with an oppressed people awaiting rescue, and still ring true in Advent of the 21st century. The Book includes themes of nature that would have been readily accessible to the Isaiahs’ constituents including animals (wild and domesticated), land formations (desert, valleys, mountains), and flora (cedars, papyrus, crocus) to bring the message of the coming utopia. He talks of comfort for the overworked and downhearted, healing of the deaf and blind; and, of good news!...and celebrations!...and of the coming King: Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace (Is 9:4)! Read more about the poetry of the Book of Isaiah at https://churchwonders.com/2021/11/28/isaiahs-poetry-of-advent/ and https://churchwonders.com/2020/12/11/isaiah-in-messiah/ 

This year the official U.S. Liturgical Calendar and the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America includes 21 readings from the Book of Isaiah starting on the First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2022. Some of the most expressive passages to be on the lookout for this Advent are:

Tuesday November 29, 2022 – Isaiah 11:1-10- A new King is coming and with it a utopia.
1 But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, / and from his roots a bud shall blossom. / 5 Justice shall be the band around his waist, / and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. / 6 Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, / and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; / The calf and the young lion shall browse together, / with a little child to guide them. / 7 The cow and the bear shall graze, / together their young shall lie down; / the lion shall eat hay like the ox. / 8 The baby shall play by the viper’s den, /and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. / 9 They shall not harm or destroy on all my holy mountain; / for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, / as water covers the sea.

Monday December 5, 2022 – Isaiah 35:1-10 – The deliverance of Israel.
1 The wilderness and the parched land will exult; / the Arabah will rejoice and bloom; / 2 Like the crocus it shall bloom abundantly, / and rejoice with joyful song. / The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, / the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; / They will see the glory of the LORD, / the splendor of our God. / 3 Strengthen hands that are feeble, / make firm knees that are weak, / 4 Say to the fearful of heart: / Be strong, do not fear! / Here is your God, / he comes with vindication; / With divine recompense / he comes to save you. / 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall see, / and the ears of the deaf be opened; / 6 Then the lame shall leap like a stag, / and the mute tongue sing for joy. / For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, / and streams in the Arabah. / 7 The burning sands will become pools, / and the thirsty ground, springs of water; / The abode where jackals crouch / will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. / 8 A highway will be there, / called the holy way; / No one unclean may pass over it, / but it will be for his people; / no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it. / 9 No lion shall be there, / nor any beast of prey approach, / nor be found. / But there the redeemed shall walk, / 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, / and enter Zion singing, / crowned with everlasting joy; / They meet with joy and gladness, / sorrow and mourning flee away.

Tuesday December 6, 2022 – Isaiah 40:1-5 – Prepare for the promise of salvation.
1 Comfort, give comfort to my people, / says your God. / 2 Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her / that her service has ended, / that her guilt is expiated, / That she has received from the hand of the LORD / double for all her sins. / 3 A voice proclaims: / In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD! / Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! / 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, / every mountain and hill made low; / The rugged land shall be a plain, / the rough country, a broad valley. / 5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, / and all flesh shall see it together; / for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Sunday December 25, 2022 – Isaiah 9:1-6 – The arrival of the great light of the Messiah!
1 The people who walked in darkness / have seen a great light; / Upon those who lived in a land of gloom / a light has shone. / 2 You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; / They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, / as they exult when dividing the spoils. / 3 For the yoke that burdened them, / the pole on their shoulder, / The rod of their taskmaster, / you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. / 4 For every boot that tramped in battle, / every cloak rolled in blood, / will be burned as fuel for fire. / 5 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; / upon his shoulder dominion rests. / They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, / Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. / 6 His dominion is vast / and forever peaceful, / Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, / which he confirms and sustains / By judgment and justice, / both now and forever. / The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

References
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/0 
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.