1 A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse;
a branch will sprout from his roots.
2 The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him,
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of planning and strength,
a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
3 He will delight in fearing the Lord.
He won’t judge by appearances,
nor decide by hearsay.
4 He will judge the needy with righteousness,
and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land.
He will strike the violent with the rod of his mouth;
by the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be the belt around his hips,
and faithfulness the belt around his waist.
Reflection
Oh, how we long for truth in these times.
We ache for leaders who decide what is right and just—not by what polls well, not by what looks good on the surface, and certainly not by what benefits them personally. Where are such people to be found?
One of the great dangers of our historical moment is a deep, all-pervasive cynicism. It whispers that no truth is worth listening to, much less sacrificing for. It tells us that trust is naïve—that governments will fail us, churches will disappoint us, and leaders will eventually let us down. And so we lower our expectations, not just of others, but of truth itself.
It is precisely into that weary, disillusioned world that Isaiah speaks. He dares to imagine a ruler who judges not by appearances, who listens not to rumor or spin, but who acts with righteousness, equity, and faithfulness. Isaiah prophesies a Messiah who can be trusted—fully and finally—to do what is right every single time.
This is what we long for. This is what we wait for.
And if we are willing to receive it, this is what we have found in Jesus.
When we gather at Christmas, it can seem as though we are simply celebrating a baby. That’s the easy part of the story—after all, who doesn’t love a baby? But Christmas is not only about who Jesus is in the manger. It is about who that child grows up to be.
We celebrate a life marked by truth, again and again; a life that chooses what is right over what is easy; a life so faithful to justice and love that it refuses to turn away, even when the cost is everything.
Jesus was born into a life—and a death—of righteousness and faithfulness. And those who follow him are called in that same Spirit: to live with integrity, to love the truth, and to remain faithful, even when it costs us something.
by Joe Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
Who are the modern exemplars of integrity and faithfulness that you look to in these times?
Prayer: Faithful God, in a world weary of empty promises and shallow truths, we thank you for the gift of Jesus, who judges with justice, walks in integrity, and remains faithful even at the cost of his own life. Shape our hearts to trust what is true, and give us courage to live with in faithful love, even when it asks something of us. Amen.
