The readings this weekend lay out some typical Advent themes, for lack of a better word. We see this especially in the first reading from Isaiah and in the Gospel.
The prophet Isaiah gives us one of the most important Messianic prophecies, or prophecies related to the coming Messiah. He begins by saying that a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse. This is another way of saying that the Messiah will be of David’s line, as Jesse is the father of David. This isn’t the origin of the Davidic understanding of the Messiah. It simply helps to give us the clue that Isaiah is referring to the Messiah.
Isaiah also talks about strange things happening, or talks about the radical peace and harmony that the age of the Messiah will bring. He mentions lions eating hay, and babies playing with cobras. When the Messiah comes things will happen that have never been seen before, things that will defy our experience, and are unexplainable.
Lastly, this Messiah will help to gather all the peoples, as this Messiah will be a signal for the Gentiles. The Messiah will not come just for the Jews, God’s chosen people, but the Messiah will come for everyone.
These things help to make up the Jewish expectation of the promised Messiah. They were expecting to see specific things to help them recognize the Messiah when he comes. They expected he be of the house of David, of royal lineage. They were expecting the Messiah to perform signs that would defy laws of nature. They were expecting peace as well.
Moving on to the Gospel, we see the entrance of John the Baptist. He is known as the Precursor of the Lord, meaning he helped to prepare the world for the coming of the public ministry of Jesus. He is fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah, in that he is that voice crying out in the desert. He prepared the way of the Lord.
Isaiah isn’t the only prophet he is fulfilling here. He is also fulfilling Elijah as well. The description of John the Baptist by St. Matthew is exactly how we see Elijah in the Old Testament. Why is this important? Because it was prophesied by the prophet Malachi that the one to come immediately before the Messiah will come in the spirit of Elijah. So this precursor will be a New Elijah.
These scriptural clues and prophecies help us to see Jesus as being the fulfillment of them. This is one proof that Jesus is the Messiah because His birth was prophesied and expected. To my knowledge there is no other person in human history whose birth was foretold.
And so a fruit of Advent is increasing our faith in Him who was born of a Virgin. The darkness of doubt can be illuminated by Him whose coming was like the dawn.