Return to Sermon Index	Dominus Regnavit a Ligno

Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Job 14:7 proclaims, "For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease."

This is the season when decorated trees and gleaming hopes move into the midst of our homes and lives. And trees are especially meaningful to the Christian, not only because they symbolize the birth of our Lord, but also because Christ, himself, died for our sins and reigned as King of kings and Lord of lords from a tree, hence today's sermon title: Dominus Regnavit a Ligno , a Latin phrase which literally means "The Lord reigned from a tree."

Indeed, the tree is important to our symbolism. And during this time most of us will be venturing out to cut down or buy a Christmas tree. Or, we will go down to our basement and drag out the old artificial Christmas tree. And then, once we have put it up in the living room of our house, we will spend several hours decorating it with some special ornaments and lights, after which we will then stand in awe of the splendor of the tree.

Indeed, trees have always fascinated people. Trees appear in poetry and stories from the earliest days of human civilization. Biblical texts use trees and praise the strength and beauty. There must be a dozen psalms that give praise to the wondrous stature Lebanon's cedar trees. And then there are the trees mentioned in the Bible which give sustenance -- fig trees and olive trees, both of which are central to the Middle Eastern concept of wealth and security. But, more than this, trees have been symbols of longevity. While human life seems to flicker by, trees can be watched for generations.

For example, one bristlecone pine tree out in California is estimated to be 4600 years old, having been on this earth since the days of the pharaohs. When we think of this, we can't help but be awed.

The Hebrews envisioned "the growth of the human family as 'tree-like' and believed certain families or nations were appointed and blessed by God to be trees of life. These trees provide shelter, and sustaining nourishment for all creatures, great and small.

Israel envisioned herself as a divinely ordered tree from which the world could get sustenance and healing. Israel saw herself as an instrument of God's love to creation. Thus, the title of this morning's sermon: "The Lord reigned from a tree", or "Dominus regnavit a ligno."

The writings of the prophet Isaiah are often read as a cry for judgment and punishment against those who have broken the Laws of God. But, Isaiah also presents a very coherent picture of God's promise of salvation, a promise to free humanity from sin's grip on creation. Thus, in our scripture reading for today from Isaiah, the hope for this promise to be fulfilled is made clear. The demise of the oppressive Assyrian empire is foretold. Hope rings forth for the revitalization of Israel, which by that time called themselves "the stump of Jesse". From that stump will sprout a holy seed. And the evil empire will fall to earth as surely as some massive forest giant falls because it is rotten to the heart. Out of the deep, thick humus of human faith and suffering the tender new growth of Jesse's lineage will shoot forth. In contrast to the raucous noise of the Assyrian spirit which has dominated life up til this time, peace will come upon the earth.

A child-king will lead -- a new shoot marked by "wisdom," "understanding," "counsel," "knowledge" and "a fear of the Lord." True justice will come forth. It will not be enforced by armies, but by the power of the words of truth and righteousness, pronounced by this messianic King. And it will be enough to "destroy the wicked."

Of course, it is a tendency for human beings like ourselves to talk about justice and righteousness and then forget to practice it. But the King promised in scripture will have righteousness and justice as part of his everyday attire. He will wear it plainly as a belt around his waist. Laid underneath this commitment to justice, next to his skin will be his faithfulness. This will clothe him. Aren't there times when we feel like the people of Judah -- overrun by the Assyrians? Don't we often feel the oppression of the powers of death and darkness and sickness and difficult financial situations, and loneliness? But the coming of Christ and the promise of the Messiah to us is a reminder that all of creation will be changed. The difficulties will be ironed out. The valleys will be lifted up, and the mountains will be made into a plain. The lions and the lambs will lie down together; they will neither hurt nor destroy; the very essence of humanity will be changed.

For us, this new shoot is the child born in Bethlehem, the Christ Child, Jesus. jesus Christ incarnates the tree of life and brings the possibility of eternal life back to all humanity. This new tender shoot out of the stump of Jesse, comes to full fruition on a tree -- the cross of Calvary, a tree that was the death of God in the life of man. So, we celebrate the birth of Christ by putting up trees and decorating them, remembering that he, Jesus, is from the stump of Jesse and that he was crucified on a tree.

This child was born to bring the true tree of life incarnate into the world, to be with us during our trials, hurts, and tribulations, so that no one and no thing may conquer us. jesus Christ brings the possibility of eternal life back to all humanity. The Messiah foretold in Isaiah comes forth in the birth of Jesus. He will reign with truth, justice, faithfulness. Death itself will die, finally releasing its icy grip from humanity's throat.

Consider the story of the three trees talking among themselves about their futures. The first said it would like to be made into a cradle, so that it might go on living as a support for the new fragile life of a baby. The second tree wanted to be made into a ocean-going ship so that it might go on living carrying important cargo and seeing new lands. The third tree longed to stay right where it was, existing only as a tree, but growing ever taller and pointing ever higher to remind everyone that there was a God in heaven who loved them.

But soon there came woodcutters who cut down these trees, and apparently also their dreams. The first tree was not made into a cradle, but was fashioned into a feeding trough, a manger for animals. But this manger was sold to a family in Bethlehem, and on the night that Jesus was born, this simple feed box became the cradle of the newborn Jesus. The second tree wasn't built into a big ship, but only into a tiny simple fishing boat. But, a man named Simon Peter bought the boat, and on one warm afternoon when the crowds pressed in, Jesus climbed aboard this small craft so that he might preach. The third tree was not only deprived of its dream to remain standing, but its wood was fashioned into a horrible instrument of torture, a cross. But it was on this cross that Jesus was crucified, transforming that symbol of cruelty into an eternal reminder of God's eternal love for all of us.

As we decorate our trees, let us not forget that the stump of the tree of jesse was a new shoot. Let us not forget that the Lord does, indeed, reign from a tree. Amen.