Isaiah 2:1-3, This is what Isaiah, son of Amos, ‘saw’ concerning Judah and Jerusalem: “In the 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 saying, “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!!” (continued..) “O house of Jacob come, let us walk in the light of The Lord!”
*** To me, Isaiah’s vision about Mount Zion, God’s house here on earth, is pretty cool. If you believe in the power of God to use His people in ways that are outstanding, (Dreams, Visions, Angels, etc.) Then you know what I mean!! The vision states that all peoples will ‘stream’ to Mt. Zion. He did not suggest visiting or vacationing or Googling it. As we gain in our knowledge of our Blessed Trinity, the ‘gaining’ part should stir up in us a desire (Thirsting) for more, the stream! The peoples will then go forth from the Mount armed with admonishment and then encouragement due to the knowledge of how to please God!! Children of God go forward in peace, justice, and God’s Love. Isaiah’s vison also sets us up perfectly for today’s Psalm… Psalm 122:1-9, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” “I rejoiced when they said to me let us go up to the house of the Lord. We have set our feet within your gates O’ Jerusalem…! (abbrev. here)
*** Today’s 2nd scripture and the Gospel could almost be combined. That is, if you could get the chronology correct. In Romans 13:11-14, Paul is urging the Romans of his day, to respect the teaching that he trained them in. In a classic example of “When the cat’s away, the mice will play”, my take is Paul goes through a lot of trouble setting up these ‘churches’ as he goes along on ministry. Eventually, he has to leave to continue evangelizing. It feels to me as if Paul has to keep reminding them (pleading really) of the lessons he taught and was an example of. He has to ‘remind’ them that he and Christ’s lessons are both still alive… and “God is watching.” ** In the spirit of fairness, Paul is trying to change how these Romans behave, TODAY, right NOW!! I’m urged to cut the Romans a tiny bit of slack. After all, Paul is asking them to embrace a new concept, AND change their actions that they have enjoyed for their lifetimes! Think about trying to get a person to quit smoking, or give up alcohol, after decades or more of use. You can ask and teach all you want, but getting results is difficult.
In our Gospel this morning, we have Jesus counselling His disciples to remember the days of Noah, the destruction, and then relate those events to the final coming of our Lord, “The Days of Glory!!” While Paul urged the folks to conduct themselves in a way worthy of God’s attention in their present day, the gospel listeners are seriously considering that Jesus is God. Jesus instructs them, with authority, about the coming age. Jesus also pleads with them to let their actions, their daily life, be worthy of God’s attention! **For us, here today, as the Boy Scouts say, “Be prepared!!”
I am Mark Gates, your servant. I currently live with my wife in Peosta, Iowa and have retired. I have spent my whole life as a God-fearing Christian, Mass Lector and cradle Catholic. In 1996 after a Charismatic Conference, My Spirituality ‘Exploded’. The Holy Spirit has since, blessed me with personal revelations and events in times of needed admonishment, teaching or encouragement. Having a personal belief and true affection for The Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist, and also a very sweet, tender, and special relationship with our Holy Spirit, I believe that our world is in dire need of Good News. I want my spirituality to create conversations! I pray that you allow these musings to start your own conversations.
