The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:6-9
Jesus, there are many things I love about the Advent season—the songs regaling your birth… the aroma of Yuletide foods and spices… the dancing array of Christmas lights aglow in my neighborhood each evening. But I especially love fueling my faith and imagination with the promises God made surrounding your first and second comings. Every promise he has made finds it’s “Yes!” in you.
Today, in particular, I’m stirred to think about the day of no more harm… of any variety. “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain.”
O, for the Day, when all “tooth and claw” violence gives way to wolves frolicking with lambs… leopards and goats napping together… calves, lions and young horses strolling peacefully through the boroughs of the new heaven and new earth… bears feeding with cows rather than feeding on them… snakes as pets rather than as pests.
As much as I love the vision of shalom in the animal kingdom, ten thousand times over… I long for the Day when we, the two-legged image-bearers of the living God, no longer harm one other… in any way, shape or form.
No more demeaning or dismissing one another… no more vilifying or idolizing one another… no more marginalizing or minimizing one another… no more hating or hurting one another… no more using or abusing one another… no more grudges held or bitter roots sown… no more labeling or libeling… no more manipulation or machinations… no more gossiping or gawking… ONLY a world full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. Jesus, it’s almost too much to imagine. It really is.
Hasten the Day when we will finally and fully love one another as you love us. Until that Day, Jesus, keep us groaning and growing in grace. Grant us quick repentances and when we love poorly and much forbearance when we’re loved poorly. May the world recognize us as your disciples by the way we love one another. So very Amen, we pray, in your powerful, patient and peacemaking name.
