The magnificent passage from Isaiah gives a marvellous description of the personality and character of the expected Messiah. It describes in a wonderful way the person of Jesus, who is that Messiah, who is the human incarnation of God living among us and as one of us. He is 'a shoot ... from the stock of Jesse'. Jesse was the father of King David and Jesus, as Messiah, is the new King, not just of Israel but of people everywhere. He judges people, not by appearances or by the prevailing prejudices that we all have, but with integrity and justice - and above all, love. When he truly enters our lives, he brings to an end all hostility between people and indeed in the animal world. He is the Prince of Peace as people set aside their fears, hates, prejudices and anger and learn to see in each other their common origins in a loving God. How sad that Jesus and his message are still unknown by so many! And, as Jesus says in the Gospel, how fortunate are those who have learnt to see who Jesus really is and have understood and accepted his message. It is not a cause for boasting or arrogance but for humble and wondering gratitude. Why me and not them? And it urges us to even greater efforts to reveal Jesus to more and more people.