Realism and Dreaming

The prophet Isaiah promises that “A shoot shall come out of the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” David came out of Jesse’s family as we learn from our Jewish ancestors, and Jesus came out of that same family. Isaiah goes on to promise that God’s Spirit will rest on this promised one, “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in God’s presence.” Sometimes all we see is a stump, a little branch growing from the roots, and yet that life shooting forth can bring the hope we need. Think of the centuries between this prophecy and the Christ child!

John the Baptist came preparing the way for Christ, and people flocked out to the unwelcoming desert to open their lives for John’s proclamation. John was realistic about the people’s lives and the need for repentance. We are realistic, too, that our lives need turning again to be ready for God’s dream. John’s realism gets us ready for the dream to be grounded in our lives. John shared the dream of one who comes to baptize with Holy Spirit and fire.

We celebrate baptism as one way for the advent of Christ in our world. When we have baptisms at St. Timothy, there is a blessing that comes straight from Isaiah’s promise – “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of joy in God’s presence.” That blessing upon your head and mine in the waters of baptism connects us both to the realism of repentance and the dream of Christ who baptizes with fire. This Advent, light a candle and contemplate the fire of God’s Spirit on you!