Real or Artificial?
Discovering the Hopeful Message of Advent
As we enter the season of Advent, a time of spiritual preparation for the arrival of Christ at Christmas, we are faced with a choice - will we be real or artificial in our approach? This question goes beyond the type of Christmas tree we put up in our homes, but rather speaks to the very core of our spiritual lives and how we will allow God to work within us during this holy season.
The Stump and the Shoot
The theme for this Advent season comes from the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1). This imagery of a shoot sprouting from a stump is a powerful metaphor for the hope that Advent brings, even in our darkest moments.
Neither a real Christmas tree nor an artificial one will ever sprout new branches and continue to grow. The artificial tree, made of plastic, was never alive to begin with. And the real tree, once cut down from the farm or forest, has lost its connection to the life-giving roots. It is merely a stump, destined to dry out and lose its needles.
Yet, it is from this stump that new life can spring forth. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of "a righteous branch to spring up for David" (Jeremiah 33:15), pointing to the Messiah who would come from the line of David. Even when all seems lost, God is able to bring forth new growth and restoration.
The Jesse Tree
This image of a shoot sprouting from a stump is often represented artistically through the "Jesse Tree" - a visual depiction of the ancestry of Jesus. Typically, a rough branch or stick is used, with figurines attached representing the key figures in Jesus' lineage, from Jesse (the father of King David) all the way to the birth of Christ.
The Jesse Tree serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus did not come into the world in a vacuum, but was the fulfillment of God's promises made throughout the Old Testament. Even when the kingdom of Israel seemed to be reduced to a mere stump, God was at work, preparing the way for the Messiah to arrive.
Israel Reduced to a Stump
The prophets of the Old Testament, like Jeremiah, ministered during a time when the nation of Israel was in a state of disarray and despair. The people had turned away from God, and as a result, their homeland was destroyed by invading armies, and the best and brightest were taken into captivity.
As one writer, Lisa D. Grenia, poignantly reflects:
"God's family tree, once beautiful and thriving, is cut off by foolishness, pride, sin, and circumstance. The promised homeland is destroyed by invaders. The best and brightest are taken to foreign lands to serve their captors. Generations pass, finally some come home to ruin."
This image of a once-vibrant family tree reduced to a mere stump is a powerful metaphor for the state of Israel at the time of the prophets. All hope seemed lost, and the people must have felt as though God had forgotten his promises to them.
Finding Hope in the Stump
Yet, even in the midst of this darkness, the prophets proclaimed a message of hope. They spoke of a day when a "shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1) - a reference to the Messiah who would come from the line of King David. Jeremiah, too, declared, "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made" (Jeremiah 33:14).
The key to this message of hope is that God has not forgotten his promises, even when all seems lost. Just as new life can spring forth from an apparently dead stump, so too can God bring restoration and redemption, even in our darkest moments.
Identifying the Stumps in Our Lives
As we reflect on the message of Advent, we might consider the "stumps" in our own lives - those areas where we feel cut off, hopeless, or disconnected from God's plan. Perhaps it's a broken relationship, a failed endeavor, or a crisis of faith. Whatever the case may be, Advent reminds us that God is able to bring new life and growth, even from the most seemingly barren of circumstances.
The question we must ask ourselves is: will we focus solely on the stump, or will we keep our eyes fixed on the potential for new growth? Will we surrender to despair, or will we cooperate with God's work of restoration in our lives?
Advent: A Season of Hope and Renewal
Advent is a season of hope and renewal, a time when we are invited to cooperate with God's work in our lives. Just as the prophets of old looked forward to the arrival of the Messiah, we too can anticipate the ways in which God will bring new life and transformation, even in the midst of our own personal "stumps."
Practical Suggestions for Advent
To help us engage with the hopeful message of Advent, here are a couple of practical suggestions:
Attend Daily Mass: During the four weeks of Advent, consider making an effort to attend daily Mass at least one day per week. The Eucharist is the seed of new life, and by receiving Christ in the sacrament, we open ourselves to the transformative power of his presence.
Spend Time in Prayer and Meditation: Set aside time each day for prayer and reflection, asking God to reveal the new "shoots" of life that he is seeking to cultivate within you. Meditate on the Scriptures, particularly the words of the prophets, and allow the message of hope to take root in your heart.
By engaging in these spiritual practices, we position ourselves to be receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit during this Advent season. We acknowledge our need for God's grace and our desire to cooperate with his plan, even when the circumstances of our lives may feel like a barren stump.
Getting Real with Jesus
Ultimately, the choice between being "real" or "artificial" in our spiritual lives is not just about the type of Christmas tree we display in our homes. It's about the authenticity of our relationship with Jesus Christ, the one who came into the world as a real, flesh-and-blood human being to offer us the gift of eternal life.
As we enter this Advent season, let us strive to be "real" in our encounters with the Lord. Let us shed any pretenses or facades, and come before him with honesty and vulnerability. For it is in this posture of humility and openness that the shoots of new life can truly begin to sprout and grow.
A Blessing for the Advent Season
As we close, let us receive the solemn blessing for the First Sunday of Advent, a prayer that reminds us of God's desire to sanctify us and enrich us with his blessings during this holy season:
May the Almighty and merciful God, by whose grace you have placed your faith in the first coming of his only begotten Son and yearn for his coming again, sanctify you by the radiance of Christ's Advent and enrich you with his blessings.
As you run the race of this present life, may he make you firm in faith, joyful in hope, and active in charity, so that, rejoicing now with devotion at the Redeemer's coming in the flesh, you may be endowed with the rich reward of eternal life when he comes again in majesty.
And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.
Remember, my friends, that when we are powerless, that is when we are strong, and victory is indeed gained through surrender. Stay caffeinated, and God love you!