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1st Reading Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122:1-2, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (R. cf. 1)
R:// "We shall go rejoicing to the house of the Lord"
2nd Reading Romans 13: 11-14a
Gospel Matthew 24: 37-44
COME, LET US GATHER
Dear friends, Peace and Goodness, and a Happy New Liturgical Year. Today is not only a Sunday, but the last Sunday of November. We thank God for his graciousness and also for ushering us into a new Liturgical Year (Year A) and a new season (Advent). In the season of Advent, we anticipate the coming of Christ. First, we look forward to the second coming of Christ at the end of time, and the second is his coming at Christmas. All these expectations demand preparation. Why? I suggest that it is in view of the Kingdom and its establishment.
I suggest we pay particular attention to the first reading from Isaiah 2:1-5. Let us lay preliminary foundations for it. The author talks about the establishment of the Kingdom of the Messiah. Additionally, Isaiah lived in a very turbulent time in Israel's history. This is the era of the Assyrian invasion around the 8th century BC. This is a time of wars and conflicts.
Let us look at the whole passage within the context of "gathering". But let us clarify and understand the mention of the mountain in the text. Thus, "The mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills" (Isa. 2:2). The nuance of a HOUSE deals also with a Kingdom. What we are also talking about is a Kingdom, the reign of a King. What about the mountain? The mountain is a cosmic centre where Heaven and Earth meet. The higher the mountain, the closer one is to God if he climbs it. If the Kingdom of the Lord's House shall be established as the highest mountain, then it only makes sense to say that people will yearn to climb it just to be closer to the divine. That is the Kingdom. People will attempt to enter because there they are closer to God.
The mountain reflects the original mountain of encounter, which is Sinai, where Moses received the Law. The Law is one of those requirements to make Israel a nation-state. If Isaiah is talking about a mountain and the reception of Instruction, the Law (Isa. 2: 3), then he speaks about gathering the scattered people once again. This time, it will not be at Sinai, but in the Kingdom to be established by the Messiah.
I suggest that there are three dimensions to this gathering. We should reflect on them even as we start Advent.
The first dimension emanates from the statement: "All NATIONS shall stream towards it [this exalted mountain]" (Isa. 2:2). Formerly, it was only Israel that was at Sinai. This time, it is extended by the mention of "All nations". The Hebrew word for "nations" is "goyim". This is a word used to refer to nations apart from Israel. Some of these nations were hostile to Israel and sought Jerusalem's destruction. Even nations hostile to Jerusalem will come to this mountain, this Kingdom. They shall be gathered. The implication is that anyone can have access to the Kingdom to be established. It is not limited. It has a universal dimension. You have the capacity to be a member of this Kingdom. The king we await is a universal king.
The movement of these nations is also striking. "They shall STREAM towards it". The Hebrew word translated as "STREAM" is "Nahar". In fact, that is also the Hebrew word for RIVER. It suggests that these people are going to move in the manner of a river; spontaneous, powerful, and voluminous current. They are not being compelled by military force but are drawn by the compelling majesty and light of God's truth in his Law.
The first dimension of gathering is that it is universal and inclusive. God starts by attracting the nations. This is unity on grounds of the Law, the Word of God. The Word shall unite. Unity is a principal character of the Kingdom to be established by the Messiah.
The second dimension resides in the fact that the nations themselves proclaim, "Come, let us go up the mountain of the Lord" (Isa. 2: 3a). Those who have glimpsed the light and experienced the Law are extending invitation to others. The process of gathering begins not only with God gathering by attracting, but also with humans participating in this gathering process in their invitation to other nations. This is a missionary character. The Kingdom transforms selfish men into selfless ministers of the Kingdom. This is also on a social level.
The third dimension is the nature of life in this Kingdom. What is the Messiah bringing? He is not only establishing unity and calling everyone in, but knowing that where two people or cultures meet, there will be conflict, the Messiah will bring peace. This should also be understood within the historical context of Isaiah's day, where there were issues of war, especially in the Assyrian uprisings.
What image does Isaiah present as the symbol for peace? "They shall beat their SWORDS into PLOUGSHARES and their SPEARS into PRUNING HOOKS" (Isa. 2: 4). Swords and spears are weapons of war. Ploughshares and pruning hooks are harvesting and gathering agricultural tools. They are also tools used for maintenance. The interesting thing is that these tools of war are at the disposal of man. He decides what to use them for. It is a decision. The character of the Kingdom is peace. To transform the weapon of war into a tool for gathering is a choice. Entrance into the Kingdom is a matter of choice. No one forces or coerces.
The issue is that the transformation of these weapons of war into tools of peace for advancing the Kingdom is fascinating. They are to be "beaten". The Hebrew word for "beat" is "Katah", and it suggests hammering the metal, not merely setting the weapons aside, but violently destroying their former functions to forge a new one. This is a change in mindset and a new consciousness. In Advent, hearts are transformed and made new to welcome Christ.
This is Advent. These are very few thoughts from the first reading. We anticipate Kingdom of Unity, of Shared Faith and Fraternity, and a Change of Mindset. May the Lord grant us a fruitful Advent journey
Pax et Bonum
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