Read Isiah 11.1-9 and instead of “him” read “you”—
you, and all of us in the community of faith.
Notice God’s power in us,
even against great forces of evil,
even throughout all Creation.
Meditate on this:
make this your Christmas wish—
that this may be true for you.
You are shoots from the root of God;
you shall sprout and blossom.
The spirit of the Blessed One shall rest on you,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of mindfulness and reverence for God.
Your delight shall be in obedience of the Holy One.
You will not judge by appearances,
or make decisions according to hearsay;
but act with respect toward the poor,
and choose for the well being of the powerless.
With a word you will disarm tyrants,
and you will blow away all oppression.
Justice shall be the belt around your waist,
and faithfulness the coat around your shoulders.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion together,
and a little child shall lead them.
No one will harm or destroy on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Beloved
as the waters cover the sea.