Advent 2 – A Green Shoot of Hope

A Green Shoot of Hope

A short reflection on Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12

Advent begins not with lights and carols, but with a stump – a symbol of what has been lost. Isaiah paints a picture of a tree cut down, only a stump remaining. Yet from that dead-looking wood, a green shoot appears. Life returns. Hope rises. God is not done.

This is the promise of Isaiah 11. A leader will come, not with military might but with wisdom, understanding, and the Spirit of God. He will speak truth, defend the vulnerable, and bring justice not by sword but by word. Christians see this fulfilled in Jesus, but the deeper invitation is to share Isaiah’s longing for a better world and better leaders.

Enter John the Baptist in Matthew 3, shouting in the wilderness, calling for repentance. He confronts religious power and warns that transformation requires fire – not destructive, but refining. John knows we can’t get to the peaceable kingdom without truth-telling and turning around. His message is urgent: clear the way, because something holy is on the horizon.

In this season, we are called not just to remember these stories but to live them. To prepare our hearts. To speak up for what is right. To plant hope in hard places. The green shoot still grows.

God brings life out of what looks dead – never underestimate the power of small beginnings.

True spiritual leadership is rooted in justice, truth, and Spirit-led transformation.

Ngā mihi
Philip

p.s. Worship leaders: You can buy a complete Order of Service and Sermon based on these readings here: https://philipgarsidebooks.com/products/worship-at-hand-advent-2-7-december-2025