O Root of Jesse, who stood as a sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and delay not. Amen.
"A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom." (Isaiah 11:1) God had made a solemn promise to David that his house and kingdom would stand firm forever (cf 2Sam. 7) but after Jerusalem was destroyed and its inhabitants deported to Babylon Israel was ruled foreign powers. What happened to God's promise? According to the Gospel of Matthew, there was 14 generations from the Babylonian exile to the birth of Jesus. No longer sitting on an earthly throne, the blood of David still flowed in their veins. "...of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah," (Matt. 1:16) and of his kingdom there shall be no end. God is at work even when we can't see and don't understand. Come, O Rod of Jesse!
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