Lions and Leopards and Bears, Oh my!

A Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent by Pastor Corenna Rae

Lectionary reading for 12/07/2025: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12   Selected passage for reflection: Isaiah 11:1-10

Read

Isaiah 11:1-10 CEB

1 A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse;

    a branch will sprout from his roots.

2 The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him,

    a spirit of wisdom and understanding,

    a spirit of planning and strength,

    a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

3 He will delight in fearing the Lord.

He won’t judge by appearances,

    nor decide by hearsay.

4 He will judge the needy with righteousness,

    and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land.

He will strike the violent with the rod of his mouth;

    by the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness will be the belt around his hips,

    and faithfulness the belt around his waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,

    and the leopard will lie down with the young goat;

    the calf and the young lion will feed together,

    and a little child will lead them.

7 The cow and the bear will graze.

    Their young will lie down together,

    and a lion will eat straw like an ox.

8 A nursing child will play over the snake’s hole;

    toddlers will reach right over the serpent’s den.

9 They won’t harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain.

    The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the Lord,

    just as the water covers the sea.

10 On that day, the root of Jesse will stand as a signal to the peoples. The nations will seek him out, and his dwelling will be glorious.

Reflect

Perhaps you have seen reels of a tiger nursing piglets or a sea lion hugging a penguin. We are fascinated with such things because they are so rare. If every tiger took care of piglets, it would not be news.  In the same way, the parade of animal friends in Isaiah is remarkable because of its oddity: wolf and lamb, leopard with kid, calf with lion, even children who play without fear because snakes don’t bite. Peace, Isaiah tells us, is possible when inconceivable, not only for odd animal friendships but in our lives.

In fact, this vision grows out of something that appears finished, lifeless, and discarded. The sign of new life to come begins with a stump.  

There may be times when we look around and think our relationships are finished or that the world is more divided than ever.  Yet generations before us, facing similar fear, violence and apprehension, have chosen to say “yes” to the invitation to move toward righteousness and reconciliation, as Isaiah envisioned here. Like the stump, this invitation has deep roots. We are reminded of the history of God’s people and God’s transforming presence in our world. This ancient text recalls the reality of the human condition and its possibilities. In so doing, it encourages us to remove any barriers to equity, to transformation, and to honoring our collective humanity. Friends, there is life here and new possibilities every day!

Respond 

Take some time to read this poetic passage prayerfully. It tells us that prey will no longer fear their predators. The vulnerable will be protected. All of creation will be filled with the wisdom of God.

• Where do you see glimpses of this vision coming to life? Write it down. Celebrate it!

• What actions can you take today to help bring this prophecy into fruition for the generations that come after us?  Perhaps it is an apology, a note of encouragement, or a visit to someplace outside your normative places. 

• Ask God to show you the good that is yours to do today.

  
  

Rest 

Creator God, as we seek to be led in worship by the Christ Child this Advent season, we recall Isaiah’s vision led by a young child. May we examine how we can say “yes” to this invitation to radical equity, righteousness, and peace. When we feel like dead and discarded stumps, remind us of our deep roots by streams of living water, so that we may experience the whole and abundant life you created us for. 

About the Author 

Corenna Rae lives in Rhode Island with her sons, Braden and Levi, who are involved together in mission, martial arts, music, and outdoor activities. She has been a vocational minister for more than 25 years, serving in a wide variety of contexts.  She loves speaking, preaching, building community, coaching, as well as equipping and visioneering ministries. She would tell you she continues to learn how to listen well and walk vulnerably as she endeavors to empower people to become confident, vulnerable, generous, Christ-like leaders. These fuel her lifetime passion for ministries of justice, reconciliation, restoration, and healing. corennarae44@gmail.com