Today’s First Reading:
In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
Dark ominous clouds hover above the Lord’s mountain
Clouds of anger and war.
Clouds of doubts and indifference.
Clouds of hunger and deprivation.
How can we walk in His ways
when we can hardly see His face
And refuse to hear His voice.
Mammon and Lucre have taken over the Lord’s mountain.
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
Many peoples have turned away from the Lord.
Some out of pride; others out of doubts.
Some because of pain and sufferings; others seeking only pleasure.
Some out of anger and hate; others because they are out of love.
Some out of ignorance; others out of willful turning away.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
Even now the drums of war are beating.
Some nations would impose their will and rule over others.
Some Nations would just grab what belongs to others.
Some subtly make slaves out of other peoples.
Some abuse their neighbors’ weakness and defenselessness.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Come, You who would sweep the dark clouds away.
Come, You who would bring us the light.
Come, You who would turn our mourning into joy.
Come, You who would give us hearts of flesh once more.
Come, for we cannot get ourselves out of the horrible pit
we have dug ourselves into.