Children can see what we adults cannot see. I remember taking my young daughter for a walk. It took us forever to walk even a block. Every few steps she would spot a “treasure”—an unusual rock, a dandelion, or some other small thing that grabbed her attention.
Today, as we continue in our season of new beginnings, the prophet Isaiah seems to be walking us through a child’s world—a kind of fairy-tale land (Isaiah 11:1-10).
“A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him…he shall judge the poor with justice…He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth…”
Imagine that. An insignificant tree stump in the forest still has a modicum of life. A fragile sprout yields a tiny bud. Only a child will notice it. And from that lonely bud a tree begins to develop. Over the years it becomes the tallest tree in the forest, towering over all the other trees. And then we are told that this great tree is transformed into a human being—a great ruler over the people. He becomes a hero who rescues the poor and releases a rod from his mouth that strikes down the wicked.
Then even more begins to happen as this tallest of tree takes over the world.
“Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors…The baby shall play by the cobra’s den…”
What peace and security this great ruler brings. The air is so thick with love that a lamb has a wolf over for lunch, calves and young lions play together in the field, little children lead ferocious animals as though they were tiny puppies. Babies play with deadly snakes.
Doesn’t this sound like a new Eden? Doesn’t it look like those drawings of Adam and Eve in which all kinds of wild animals are friendly to them? And in Isaiah’s “fairy tale,” even the snake who duped our first parents becomes a play toy for babies—it lost its power to sting.
“There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.”
What is the secret to this new world in which no one can get hurt and nothing dies? It is the richness of God’s presence there. It is as if everything is soaked in the loving presence of God—this is the power that the new ruler brings upon the earth.
In today’s gospel account Jesus rejoices in what children can see that adults cannot (Luke 10:21-24).
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such is your gracious will.”
What seems to be hidden from us adults, children can see. What the wise and learned of the world search for, is obvious to the childlike. Jesus realizes that the vision of Isaiah—this new Eden—is already here. The Kingdom of God has come. The tiny bud has become a ruling tree.
God gave the disciples of Jesus childlike vision.
“Blessed the eyes that see what you see.”
As we yield to Jesus in our lives, we take on the eyes of a child. The Church invites us to step into Jesus’ world as we prepare for new beginnings—even in a time when it seems that the opposite of Isaiah’s vision has taken hold of the world.
“Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants” (Ps 80:4).
