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As we approach the sacred season of Advent, a time of hope, reflection, and joyful anticipation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am excited to share a special opportunity with all of you. This Advent we will explore a beautiful tradition that will enrich our Advent journey together as a parish —the Jesse Tree.
The Jesse Tree is a meaningful symbol that draws from the biblical lineage of Jesus, connecting the stories of the Old Testament to the advent of the Messiah. I’ve created a special program that will give you activities to do yourself, with your family, or small group. It consists of “ornaments” for every day of Advent. Each ornament on the tree represents a prophet, ancestor, or key event that foretold or prepared the way for Christ's birth. Every day has a different ornament with a special symbol. The symbol is connected to different members of Jesus’ distant relatives leading up to Christmas. There is also a daily meditation, journal reflection questions, and prayers.By incorporating the Jesse Tree into our Advent practices, we deepen our connection to the Scriptures and embrace the fullness of God's salvation plan.
The Jesse tree is a tradition that connects the events leading up to Jesus' birth to the custom of decorating Christmas trees. The history of the Jesse tree includes:
Biblical origins ~ The Jesse tree is based on a prophecy in the Book of Isaiah that describes the descent of the Messiah. The prophecy says, "A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots" (Isaiah 11:1). Christians interpret this as a prophecy of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and King, because Jesus was a descendant of Jesse.
Artistic depictions~ The Tree of Jesse is a common subject in Christian art, especially in medieval times. Examples include illuminated manuscripts, stained glass windows, stone carvings, and paintings. The Tree of Jesse is the original use of a family tree as a schematic representation of a genealogy.
Advent tradition~ The Jesse tree tradition likely began in the Middle Ages as a way to teach Bible stories. During Advent, people place ornaments on a bare branch to represent the people, events, and prophesies leading up to Jesus' birth. The tradition is said to have originated from the idea that the love and preparation given to the Jesse tree would cause flowers to bloom from the branch.
Family tree tradition~ The Tree of Jesse inspired the modern custom of illustrating genealogies as family trees. In the Medieval period, noble families would use the Tree of Jesse as a model to depict their own lineage.
This is an invitation to embark on a collective spiritual journey. Whether you're familiar with the Jesse Tree or hearing about it for the first time, there's something profound to experience and share.
As we prepare to enter the season of Advent, let us renew our commitment to Christ our King. May we work together to build His kingdom here on earth, not through domination, but through love and service to one another.
"Then the King will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'" - Matthew 25:34
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Today's Reflection