Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 19 December ‘25
Christmas Novena – Day 3
Judges 13:2-7, 24-25. Luke 1:25-35
Come, Root of Jesse
Today, on the third day of the Christmas Novena, the Church places on our lips another great messianic cry: “Come, Root of Jesse!”
This title leads us deep into the mystery of God’s patient and faithful work in history. Jesse was the father of David, and from his seemingly ordinary family line God promised a king whose reign would bring justice, peace, and hope. When Isaiah speaks of a shoot springing from the stump of Jesse, he is announcing that even when everything looks cut down, barren, or finished, God can bring forth new life.
1. Hope from Hidden Roots
The image of the “Root of Jesse” reminds us that God works quietly, from below the surface. Roots are unseen, yet they carry life. Israel had known glory under David, but also failure, exile, and humiliation. The royal tree seemed cut down. Yet God was not finished. From that stump, from that hidden root, new life would emerge.
For us too, this is consoling. There are moments when our lives feel like stumps—dreams cut short, hopes delayed, prayers unanswered. Advent assures us: God’s promises are never cancelled; they only take deeper roots.
2. Two Annunciations, One Divine Plan
Today’s readings present two remarkable birth announcements: In the first reading, the birth of Samson, a judge raised up to begin Israel’s deliverance. In the Gospel, the announcement of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ.
Both stories share striking similarities. In both, an angel of the Lord appears. In both, the parents are absorbed in ordinary life. In both, the child is set apart, consecrated to God, with clear instructions about his way of life. Both Samson and John are Nazirites—men dedicated to God from before birth.
These similarities show us that salvation history is not random. God prepares the future long before it arrives. Each new “shoot” grows from an older root.
3. Silence and Trust: Two Responses
Yet there is a crucial difference. Samson’s mother listens in silence and trust. Zechariah questions and hesitates. As a result, Zechariah loses his voice. This silence is not punishment alone; it is formation. John the Baptist will be “a voice crying in the wilderness,” and his father must first learn silence.
Only when Zechariah fully accepts God’s plan—by writing, “His name is John”—is his tongue loosened, and praise flows. God teaches him, and us, that true speech is born from obedience. Sometimes God silences us so that His word may grow within us.
4. God’s Perfect Timing
The Gospel also reminds us of God’s perfect timing. For a priest like Zechariah, to be chosen even once to serve in the Temple sanctuary was the grace of a lifetime. On that very day, God not only honours him but answers his long, painful prayer for a child and removes the shame his family carried. One grace leads to another. This is how God acts: quietly, generously, decisively—at the right moment.
Elizabeth’s joy and Manoah’s wife’s blessing echo the same truth: when God begins to act, life flourishes.
5. From Forerunners to the Messiah
In a messianic reading, Samson and John stand as forerunners. Their consecration points beyond themselves. Matthew will later say of Jesus that He will be called a Nazorean. All these threads meet in Christ, the true Root of Jesse—not only a descendant of David, but the fulfilment of every promise. What began as a root becomes a tree that shelters all nations.
6. Our Call Today
Today’s Word invites us to reflect on our own lives. Every birth has a purpose. Samson’s mission was revealed to his mother; John’s mission to his father. Discovering our purpose is not easy, but it begins with one truth: we are each created uniquely. When we accept our God-given uniqueness, we stop comparing, competing, or imitating. Our uniqueness becomes our vocation, our identity, and our fruitfulness.
Like the Root of Jesse, may our lives continue to sprout, grow, and bear fruit—even from places that seem cut down.
Conclusion
As we pray today’s “O Antiphon,” we cry out with faith: “O Root of Jesse, sign of hope for all peoples, before whom kings fall silent and nations seek refuge: come, deliver us, do not delay.”
May the Lord who brings life from hidden roots renew our hope, strengthen our trust, and help us recognise His quiet work in our lives.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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