What are we waiting for?

by Jodi-beth McCain, Director of Religious Education and Lower Elementary Catechist

During Advent, we gather the children together in the primary classrooms and during prayer service. We talk about waiting and preparing. We read the words of the prophets.

I am so very grateful for how the children help me to hear the prophecies in new ways.

Recently a group of lower elementary students met to study the words of Isaiah about a bud from Jesse (Isaiah 11: 1-9).

After we finished reading about the animals and children that would live together peaceably and that they would not “harm or destroy” on the holy mountain, I asked them to tell me in their own words what the “bud” would bring about. They announced:

“Everywhere there’s going to be love” and “it’s going to be like Parousia.”

“The Lord is everywhere.”

“Amazing animals everywhere. Cake everywhere… Dinosaurs will come back. Mean people will turn nice.”

“Everlasting everything, except evil. There’s no meanness.”

 “There’s no such thing as money.”

“Everybody has pets” and has “powers to turn into the Lord.” 

“The people who build stuff won’t have to build it - it will just be there - everything we need.”

And “roller coasters!”

Finally, a child explained, “If you drop your phone [and it breaks], everybody will give you theirs.”

When I wondered who the bud that Isaiah spoke of could be, one child said, “God.” Another said “Jesus” and then added, “And each other.” She explained, “People will help you a lot.”

Our children invite us to be the bud for each other.  Then the day of kindness and roller coasters will come.