The Tree of Jesse
In the first reading of today’s scriptures for the Second Sunday of Advent, we hear the following words from the prophet Isaiah: On that day: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
Isaiah 11:1 prophesies the coming of a Messiah from the line of Jesse, the father of King David, who will emerge from a seemingly hopeless or dead ‘stump’ to bring a new era of justice and peace. The verse uses the imagery of a ‘shoot’ or ‘branch’ sprouting from a tree stump to symbolize new life and a renewed kingdom emerging from the downfall of David’s house, offering hope for a future leader who will restore the people.
We see the prophesied figure to be Jesus Christ. In the Roman missal (which is the book of prayers used by the priest while celebrating Mass) there is, at the beginning of the Advent section, a beautiful a copy of ‘The Tree of Jesse’ — which is found as a full-page miniature in the Ingeborg Psalter, an illuminated manuscript created in Northern France around 1200. This image depicts the genealogical lineage of Christ, as foretold by Isaiah, connecting Jesus to the House of David and Abraham. In our own Canterbury Cathedral there is a medieval stained-glass window depicting the Tree of Jesse, showing the genealogy of Christ from Jesse of Bethlehem. Due to historical damage, only two medieval panels remain intact: a figure of King Josiah and the Virgin Mary. You can find this in the Corona of the Cathedral.
This Advent we are going to create our own Jesse tree using the Christmas tree that has been kindly donated by a young couple from our parish. Our children have been drawing images that will be hung from the branches of the tree depicting the story of salvation. These are of biblical figures and events that represent Jesus’s ancestors and the salvation history leading up to his birth. Some images will include the Creation, Noah’s Ark, Jacob’s ladder, Joseph Coat of Many Colours , the Ten Commandments, David’s sling, the stump and shoot for Jesse, and Mary and the child Jesus at the top.
Lord God, Our hearts long for your coming. We wait to joyfully welcome you.
Father in Heaven, soon the glory of your son, Jesus will make the night bright with light. Prepare our hearts and minds. Amen.
