Beloved Family:
I hope that by now, most of our households have received a copy of the Advent-Christmas flyer, which provides a fairly comprehensive listing of times for prayer and worship, as well as opportunities for practice generosity in giving at this season. If you did not receive one or need an additional copy, those are on hand in a couple of spots within the church—namely on the table inside the main portico entrance and outside the offices.
The Advent wreath is the typical visual focal point of the season. Indeed, ours is in place above the sanctuary. Beginning last year, we introduced another “progressive” symbol of the journey of Advent: the Jesse Tree. Our rendering is featured on several of the ledges beneath our stained-glass windows. We encourage individuals and families to take time during these weeks to explore the symbol ornaments.
The following introduction is largely sourced from www.catholicculture.org:
Isaiah 11:1-3a contains the Messianic Prophecy of the origins of the Messiah:
But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
Translations vary for "the stump of Jesse"; it has also been referred to as the rod, root or stem of Jesse. Isaiah's passage and the genealogy of Jesus as found in the Gospels of Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23–38 are the main inspiration for art depicting Jesus' family tree. The earliest example can be found in a manuscript from the 11th century, but there are multiple examples of interpretation and depicted in different media (manuscripts, paintings, wood carvings, stone carvings, stained glass, etc.) through the centuries. Jesse is usually depicted as reclining at the base of the image, with vines or branches or stems coming from his "root" and all the different ancestors of Christ depicted, sometimes with other key "players" included, such as different prophets of the Old Testament, with Jesus shown as the flower of Jesse.
Beginning in the 20th century developed a prayerful tradition of the "Jesse Tree" using the inspiration of the art of the Jesse Tree and the Mystery Play's Tree of Life. Within this practice there is a wide range of interpretation of which figures to include in the Jesse Tree. Some choices are very literal and only use the family line of Jesus, others include salvation history with key biblical figures, including prophets, and still others incorporating events and typology and symbols not always connected with a certain person. Each day a person or type of Christ is pondered, sometimes accompanied with Scripture readings and prayers, and an ornament with the symbols is hung on the Jesse Tree.
Here is the listing of the symbols and Scriptural citations for Week 1 of Advent:
Dec. 1: The Story of Creation; Genesis 1:1-23; Earth
Dec. 2: The Story of Adam and Eve; Genesis 2:7-9, 18-24; Tree
Dec. 3: The Fall of Man; Genesis 3:1-15, 20-23; Apple, serpent
Dec. 4: The Story of Noah; Genesis 6, 7, 8; Ark, rainbow
Dec. 5: The Story of Abraham; Genesis 12:1-3, 26:4; Stars
Dec. 6: The Story of Isaac; Genesis 22:1-14; Ram
Dec. 7: The Story of Jacob; Genesis 25:1-34, 28:10-15; Ladder
May we experience deep peace in these Advent days and nights.
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
