"Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see¡K. to hear what you hear..." At this beginning of the Advent season, listening to these words of Jesus, let us pray that we may appreciate more deeply the great privilege we have of knowing Christ and the story of his Coming.

Wonder and joy colour the vision that Isaiah shares about what the coming of the Messiah would be like. His wonder and joy is just like what small children so spontaneously express in the presence of something new and exciting. Jesus well observed children's capacity to understand what's hidden from the understanding of those who are wise and learned, and He thanked the Father for making it so. Isaiah's great desire is to see "that day", when the Spirit of the Lord would come down on the Anointed One. What he desired to see and hear is what we've already been blessed to experience and celebrate.

When people sometimes say that Christmas is for children, they're saying something far more deep and true than they think. For it's only the childlike heart that can see and hear the mystery and wonder of the human birth of God-become-man. The wise and learned, the wealthy and powerful are too sophisticated, or self-sufficient, to see and hear beyond the surface appearances.