Immanuel

"Once again YAHWEH addressed Ahaz, 'Ask for a sign from YAHWEH your GOD, let it come either from the deepest depths or from the heights of heaven.'

But Ahaz answered, 'I will not ask, I will not put YAHWEH to the test.'

Then Isaiah said, 'Now listen, descendants of David.  Have you not been satisfied trying the patience of people, that you also try the patience of people, that you also try the patience of my GOD?  Therefore the LORD HIMSELF will give you a sign:

The Virgin is with child and bears a son and calls HIS name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:10-14 

(The prophecy about the Virgin giving birth is one of the most important in the Scriptures even though it leaves some questions unanswered.

To support his warnings, Isaiah offers a miraculous sign to the king: Ask the LORD....  Ahaz piously refuses to hide his determination not to turn back.  Then, the prophet explodes in anger: these descendants of David whom GOD has always protected are useless: a descendant of David of another kind will be able to bring salvation to GOD's people.  YAHWEH is preparing to send HIM.  HIS mother [called here the Virgin] gives HIM the name HE will deserve.

Immanuel means GOD-with-us.  This child not only gives us GOD's blessings, or miraculous and divine liberation, but through HIM, GOD becomes present among humankind and the promises heard so many times come true: I will be their GOD and they will be MY people [Hosea 2:25; Ezekiel 37:27; Revelation 21:3].)

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Prayer In Old Age

"Be my rock of refuge; a stronghold, to give me safety; for YOU are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my GOD, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of cruel and violent people.

For YOU, O YAHWEH, have been my hope; my trust, O GOD, from my youth.

I have relied on YOU from birth: from my mother's womb YOU brought me forth.  My praise is of YOU continually.

I have become like a portent to many, but YOU are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with YOUR praise, announcing YOUR glory, day by day.

Do not cast me off in my old age, do not desert me when my strength fails.

For my enemies speak ill of me; awaiting my death, they set plans.

They say, 'GOD has forsaken him; let us pursue and seize him, for no one will rescue him.'

O GOD, be not far from me; my GOD, make haste to help me!

Let my accusers be destroyed in shame; let those who seek my ruin, be covered with disgrace and scorn.

Then, I may trust in YOU and praise YOU. 

My lips will proclaim YOUR intervention and tell of YOUR salvation all day, little though it is what I can understand.

I will come to YOUR strength, O YAHWEH, and announce YOUR justice, YOURS alone.

YOU have taught me from my youth and, until now, I proclaim YOUR marvels."

- Psalm 71:3-17

(An old man looks back on his life.  He was taught at his mother's knee to put his trust in GOD always.  He has not forgotten but has GOD forgotten him?  His enemies say 'yes'; he knows better.  And yet he is anxious.  Even a short life has its crisis and he has lived a long time, and GOD seems very far away.  Though the psalmist expresses himself in the conventional language, this does not conceal his very real distress.  We can imagine here the situation of Job himself.  One learns with age how powerfully the resilience of youth contributed even to religious optimism.  GOD, slowly and gently, teaches us to do without it.  This unconscious young confidence in ourselves having done its work is now removed.  If old age wishes it, GOD is closer than ever: the trust is purified.

Like the psalmist we too may have gone through the ups and downs of life and at times even feeling like Job.  But the faith of the psalmist never wavered.  He is confident that GOD will raise him up from the deepest depths.  If we also show faith like that of the psalmist, we will have nothing and nobody to fear.  And then, like St. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:20 and again in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we too will, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks to GOD at every moment.  This is the will of GOD, your vocation as Christians.")

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YAHWEH-Our-Justice

"YAHWEH further says, 'The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David's righteous successor.  HE will rule wisely and govern with justice and righteousness.  That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety.  HE will be called YAHWEH-our-justice!'

'The days are coming,' says YAHWEH, 'when people shall no longer swear by YAHWEH as the living GOD who freed the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.  Rather, they will swear by YAHWEH as the living GOD who restored the descendants of Israel from the northern empire and from all the lands where HE had driven them, to live again in their own land!'" - Jeremiah 23:5-8 

(GOD promises lasting peace.  The new people of GOD will be more than a mere continuation of the old kingdom of Israel, and the new king will be more than the earthly kings [see how JESUS develops this point in John 10].

Humankind hopes for unity in peace, and the Church now must offer the witness of different people gathered in CHRIST.  The reality, however, will be achieved only in the heavenly Jerusalem [Revelation 21:22].)

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The Blessing Of Jacob

"Gather around, sons of Jacob.  And listen to your father Israel!

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the first fruits of my manhood! excelling in honor and excelling in power.

Restless a flowing water, you will excel no more for you went to your father's wife, on to my bed and defiled it.

Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.  Let me not share their counsel!  Let my heart keep far from their company, for in anger they killed men, and hamstrung oxen at their pleasure.  A curse on their anger for it is fierce; a curse on their fury, so cruel!  I will divide them among Jacob, and scatter them among Israel.

Judah, your brothers will praise you!

You shall seize your enemies by the neck!

Your father's sons shall bow before you.

Judah, a young lion!

You return from the prey, my son!

Like a lion he stoops and crouches,

and like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

The scepter shall not be taken from Judah,

nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,

until he comes to whom it belongs,

and who has the obedience of the nations."

 - Genesis 49:2-10

(Jacob's blessings do not go to his sons but to the twelve tribes bearing their names.  The future destiny of these tribes will vary greatly.  Jacob's blessing is a way of saying that these destinies were known to GOD beforehand and that they were part of HIS plan of salvation which benefits everyone, but does not give the same gift to everyone.

The two tribes of Judah and Joseph dominate.  This ancient prophecy seems to say that Judah would live apart from others until the coming of "the one the people would obey."  This text, however, is not clear in the original manuscripts.  Did they wish only to celebrate the coming of king David, or was it the announcement of a great destiny for the kingdom of Judah, or was it the expectation of a savior-king?  Actually the kings of the people of GOD and JESUS after them were to come from the tribe.  Judah here is considered as the heir of the promises made to Abraham and Jacob.)

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Where Did John's Baptism Come From? From Heaven Or From People?

"JESUS had entered the temple and was teaching, when the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the Jewish authorities came to HIM, and asked, 'What authority have YOU to act like this?  Who gave YOU authority to do all this?'

JESUS answered them, 'I will also ask you one question.  If you answer ME, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.'  Where did John's baptism come from?  From heaven or from people?'

They discussed this among themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' HE will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'  And if we say, 'The baptism of John was merely something human', we've got to beware of the people, for all consider John to be a prophet.'  So they answered JESUS, 'We do not know.'

And JESUS said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'" - Matthew 21:23-27 

(JESUS is what we would call today a simple layman.  HE respects the priests of the people of GOD and their high priest.  HE shows however that if they want others to be accountable, for their part they must be ready to take a stand on the things of GOD when the people need this.  They had been and were unwilling to give such a response in the case of John the Baptist.)

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JESUS And John The Baptist

"When John the Baptist heard in prison about the deeds of CHRIST, he sent a message by his disciples, asking him, 'Are YOU the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'

JESUS answered them, 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the poor hear the good news; and how fortunate is the one who does not take offense at ME!'

As the messengers left, JESUS began to speak to the crowds about John: 'When you went out to the desert, what did you expect to see?  A reed swept by the wind?  What did you go out to see?  A man dressed in fine clothes?  People who wear fine clothes live in palaces.  What did you really go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, indeed, and even more than a prophet.  He is the man of whom Scripture says: I send MY messenger ahead of YOU, to prepare the way before YOU.

I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has arisen from among the sons of women; and yet, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.'" - Matthew 11:2-11

(The visit of the disciples of John will help us to understand what JESUS brings and what cannot be expected of HIM.

And the poor hear the good news...  JESUS' message includes a preferential love of GOD for the poor and for those who share with them in their poverty.  The Gospel is not for them also, but for them first.  This text is to be read together with Luke 1:52; 4:18; 6:20; 10:23.

It would be wrong to interpret this text as thinking that GOD only asks of us to catechize less instructed people, or those of lower condition in life.  In the time of JESUS the Pharisees already thought their duty was to teach simple and uneducated people; JESUS instead sent HIS apostles, poor among the poor, to enable them to discover the presence and working of GOD the FATHER.  The concrete life of the rural and urban poor is the context in which fundamental experiences occur that will renew the world and the spiritual life of everyone.

No one greater than John the Baptist has arisen.  This verse refers to a prophet or to a political leader.)

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Prophet Elijah

"Then came the prophet Elijah, like a fire, his words a burning torch.

He brought a famine on the people and in his zealous love had them reduced in number.

Speaking in the name of the LORD he closed the heavens, and on three occasions called down fire.

How marvelous you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!  Who could ever boast of being your equal?  By the word of the Most High you brought a dead man back to life; you brought kings to destruction and thrust famous men from their beds.

You heard a rebuke at Sinai and sentences of punishment at Horeb; you anointed kings to be avengers and prophets to succeed you.

You were taken up by a whirlwind of flames in a chariot drawn by fiery horses.

It was written that you should be the one to calm GOD's anger in the future, before it broke out in fury, to turn the hearts of fathers to their sons and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

Happy are those who will see you and those who die in love, for we too shall live. - Sirach 48:1-11

(In this text, as in Malachi 3:23, we find the Jewish belief that Elijah would return in the days of the Messiah.  For the Jews, Elijah was the man who raised the dead and who had been preserved from death by GOD.  Ben Sira hopes to regain life to see the happy days of salvation.)

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Your Peace Would Have Been Like A River, Your Righteousness Like The Waves Of The Sea

"Thus says YAHWEH, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, YAHWEH, your GOD, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.

Had you paid attention to MY commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Your descendants would have been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from MY presence." - Isaiah 48:17-19 

(In this text the prophet looks at Israel's past, reminding us of what we read about the lost Paradise.  If they had obeyed, GOD's desire to lavish HIS blessings upon them would have been fulfilled, as well as GOD's promises to Abraham.

But GOD will intervene again as the Redeemer of HIS people.)

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"The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Advancing Forcefully."

"I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has arisen from among the sons of women; and yet, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is something to be conquered; and violent men seize it.

Up to the time of John, there was only prophesy: all the prophets and the law.  And if you believe ME, John is indeed that Elijah, whose coming was predicted.  Let anyone with ears listen!" - Matthew 11:11-15 

(No one greater than John the Baptist has arisen.  This verse refers to a prophet or to a political leader.

The kingdom of heaven is something to be conquered; and violent men seize it.  This sentence could also be translated: "The kingdom of heaven is advancing forcefully."  The kingdom of GOD is the moving force that makes history progress, taking advantage of both gentle and violent changes in human life.  The believers are called to participate actively in this constant transformation.  Death and resurrection are at work among us and all over the world.)

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Only GOD Is Good; And Good Is The Authority Of CHRIST

"Come to ME, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take MY yoke upon you and learn from ME, for I AM gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest.  For MY yoke is easy; and MY burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30

(I will not relieve you of your load but by placing MY yoke on you, I give you the means of carrying the load.

JESUS plays with the two words yoke and load, for the Jews used to call "load" the divine teachings imparted to pupils, and yoke the balancing of the teacher's sentences, which should be learned by heart.

JESUS, the patient and humble teacher, enables us to see the mercy of GOD in our lives and in our own cross.  HE shows us the love of GOD even in the requirements of the law.  Only GOD is good; and good is the authority of CHRIST.)

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The Parable Of The One Hundred Sheep

"What do you think of this?  If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one?  And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it, than about the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  It is the same with your FATHER in heaven.  Your FATHER in heaven doesn't want even one of these little ones to perish." - Matthew 18:12-14 

(The parable of the one hundred sheep is also found in the Gospel of Luke [15:1].  It teaches us several things: JESUS' special concern for sinners and those who stray and, therefore, the missionary dimension of HIS apostolate.  In fact, JESUS came "to seek and save the lost" [Luke 19:10], "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" [Matthew 9:13].  This attitude should impel our parishes and Christian communities to constantly reach out to the unchurched and marginalized, instead of just working with those who already are in touch with the Church.)

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Orchestra Of Praise To GOD, King Of The World

"Sing to YAHWEH a new song, for HE has done wonders; HIS right hand, HIS holy arm, has won victory for HIM.

YAHWEH has shown HIS salvation, revealing HIS justice to the nations.

HE has not forgotten HIS love, nor HIS faithfulness to Israel.  The farthest ends of the earth all have seen GOD's saving power.

All you lands, make a joyful noise to YAHWEH, break into song and sing praise, with melody of the lyre and with music of the harp."

- Psalm 98:1-4

(Our LORD founded the kingdom of GOD on earth; and yet we pray: 'YOUR kingdom come.'  The work of our redemption has been accomplished, but we still pray for this salvation, to be perfected throughout the world: GOD has come; but we look for HIS final coming, to take possession of HIS kingdom.

Sing to the LORD a new song.  Humanity has found the way to liberation and salvation.  It is in the coming of CHRIST, GOD-made-man and in HIS resurrection.

For the LORD came down to earth, showed us HIS love and also by HIS death and resurrection, the path to eternal salvation.)

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Grace And Fidelity

"And we know, that whatever was written in the past, was written for our instruction, for both perseverance and comfort, given us by the Scripture, sustain our hope.  May GOD, the source of all perseverance and comfort, give to all of you, to live in peace in CHRIST JESUS, that you may be able to praise, in one voice GOD, FATHER of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD.

Welcome, then, one another, as CHRIST welcomed you for the glory of GOD.  Look: CHRIST put HIMSELF at the service of the Jewish world, to fulfill the promises made by GOD to their ancestors; here, you see GOD's faithfulness.  The pagans, instead, give thanks to GOD for HIS mercy, as Scripture says: Because of that, I will sing and praise YOUR name among the pagans." - Romans 15:4-9 

(In this twofold attitude of GOD toward the Jews and the "nations," that is to say non-Jews, Paul sees a manifestation of the two great qualities that prophetic tradition attributes to GOD: grace and fidelity.  What Paul is saying here certainly goes beyond the case of Jews and non-Jews.  Two applications of this can be given.

First, for the Christian community.  As JESUS stated to the Pharisees, we know that no elitist group by itself constitutes JESUS' Church.  It can only be in the truth if it constantly has two groups, on one hand, those who have matured in fidelity, inheriting the faith and sacrifices of their parents and persevering in the community and on the other hand, those who come from the outside and who have undergone a strong personal conversion.  Naturally, this creates conflicts and it requires sacrifices from everyone but this is where GOD likes to work.

In addition, this text helps us to understand that GOD only reveals HIMSELF to a minority while at the same time, GOD was saving all human beings.)

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"This Is The Way, Walk In It."

"O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.  When you cry, HE will listen; when HE hears, HE will answer.

When the LORD has given you the bread of anguish and the water of distress, HE, your teacher will hide no longer.  Your own eyes will see HIM, and your ear will listen to HIS words behind you: 'This is the way, walk in it.'

You will see the uncleanliness of your idols and images overlaid with silver and gold.  You will throw them out like a menstrual cloth.  'Away with you then!' you will say to them.

HE will then give rain for the seed you sow and make the harvest abundant from the crops you grow.  On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures.  Your beasts of burden will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel.

For on the day of the great slaughter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill.

The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven times greater, like the light of seven days, when YAHWEH binds up the wounds of HIS people and heals the bruises inflicted by HIS blows." - Isaiah 30:19-26 

(GOD loves us and teaches us.  This poem speaks of all the marvels to be discovered when meeting GOD through tears.

You will see the uncleanliness of your idols.  People have become aware that they were serving false gods.  Idolatry does not only mean keeping carved gods, but more trusting people, serving institutions and envying the things that these images represent.)

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This People Honors ME With Words

"The LORD then said: 'This people say they are loyal to ME; they honor ME with lip-service, while their hearts stay afar.  The worship they offer ME is useless, these are no more than traditions and human rules.

Because of this I will surprise them once more; the wisdom of the wise will be useless and the understanding of their prudent men will be at a loss.'" - Isaiah 29:13-14 

(If we cease to be seekers of GOD, if we have not orientated our life to allow GOD to enter, our religion quickly becomes a collection of beliefs and practices similar to what all social groups have, which became like elements of a school program.  JESUS will recall it in Mark 7:6.)

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Song Of Victory

"On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city,

HE HIMSELF has set up

walls and fortifications to protect us.

Open the gates!

Let the righteous nation enter,

she who is firm in faithfulness.

You keep in perfect peace 

the one of steadfast mind,

the one who trusts in YOU.

Trust in YAHWEH forever,

for YAHWEH is an everlasting Rock.

HE brought down those who dwell on high,

HE laid low to the lofty city,

HE razed it to the ground,

leveled it to the dust,

Now it is trampled

the poor and the lowly tread upon it."

- Isaiah 26:1-6

(A thanksgiving to YAHWEH who has done away with the presence of the oppressor.  HIS citadel, installed, it would seem, in Jerusalem itself had been completely destroyed.)

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The Banquet Of The Elect

"On this mountain YAHWEH SABAOTH will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained.

On this mountain HE will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more.  The LORD YAHWEH will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; HE will take away the humiliation of HIS people all over the world:

for YAHWEH has spoken.

On that day you will say: This is our GOD.  We have waited for HIM to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in HIS salvation.  For on this mountain the hand of YAHWEH rests." - Isaiah 25:6-10 

(The text recalls that this victory is only one stage: the great hope is "the banquet of the elect" after the judgment when GOD will destroy death.  John will use these images in Revelation 7:17 and 21:4.)

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Little Ones Live Their Faith In Simple Ways But They Know That None Of Their Sacrifices Are Lost

"At that time, JESUS was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and said, 'I praise YOU, FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, for YOU have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to little ones.  Yes, FATHER, such has been YOUR gracious will.  I have been given all things by MY FATHER, so that no one knows the Son except the FATHER, and no one knows the FATHER except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal HIM.'

Then JESUS turned to HIS disciples and said to them privately, 'Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you, that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.'" - Luke 10:21-24 

(What are these things that GOD has revealed to the little ones but the mysterious power of the Gospel to transform people and show them the truth?  The apostles marvel at the power coming from the name of JESUS [Mark 16:17].  JESUS underlines the defeat of the Adversary, Satan.

The learned and the clever think they know, but do not know what is essential.  They speak of a GOD who is no more than a shadow of the true GOD as long as they do not recognize HIM in JESUS.  They do not know where the world is heading because they do not see GOD's power is working wherever JESUS is being proclaimed.

The little ones, on the other hand, have understood.  Before they saw themselves as a sacrificed generation.  For the little ones are used to sacrificing themselves for their children from generation to generation, or they are sacrificed by powers, under the pretext of bringing happiness to their descendants.  They did not live for themselves; rather they were preparing a place for others.  Now the little ones, namely, the humble believers, have everything if they have JESUS, the FATHER has given everything to HIM.

Little ones live their faith in simple ways but they know that none of their sacrifices are lost.  It is JESUS who reveals the FATHER to us and, knowing HIM in truth, we also share in HIS control over events.  Our desires and our prayers are powerful because we have come to the center from which GOD directs the forces saving humankind: because we work for eternity, our names are already written in heaven.

To evangelize does not mean to try to sell the Gospel but rather to prove its power to heal people from their demons.  We need not become activists in order to accomplish that.  We must admit that we have no power in these things and we must give thanks to GOD who enabled us to see, to hear and to communicate HIS salvation.

Fortunate are you to see... Stop being envious of famous people, kings and prophets of the past.  You who are alive now, and who are neither kings nor prophets, have been given the better part.)

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The Remnant

"On that day the Shoot of YAHWEH will be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor for the survivors of Israel.

Those who are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

When the LORD washes away the filth of the women of Zion and purges Jerusalem of the bloodstains in its midst with the blast of searing judgment, the blast of fire.

Then will YAHWEH create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of fire by night.

For the glory of YAHWEH will be a canopy and a pavilion for all, a shade from the scorching heat by day, a refuge from the storm and rain." - Isaiah 4:2-6 

(In the turbulent history of nations, GOD allows a small and insignificant people to take shape.  From among them a chosen group called "Remnant" appears and takes root.  As a pyramid is gradually reduced to a point, so is this remnant reduced, until it becomes only one man, the Savior.  Here, HE is called the fruit of the earth.  HE is also called Shoot, because HE will be the sprout for the new humanity.

Notice here, as in 1:27, that the kingdom of GOD begins with a "judgment."  This means that human beings alone cannot build the lasting city.  Isaiah denounces at the same time the sin of individuals and the sin of the nation.  No nation can present itself as the kingdom of GOD on earth.  The Jewish people directed by the law of Moses, and the kingdom of David consecrated by GOD, only represented the first phase of sacred history.  They would have to give up their ambitions and their human limitations [a kingdom of GOD in Palestine!] to receive from GOD a new covenant: see Jeremiah 31:31.  It is CHRIST who judges the world [John 12:31] and who pardons its sins [John 20:22].

Also, as in 2:2, the kingdom of GOD is a place where GOD becomes present to HIS people: see the Cloud and the pillar of fire in Exodus 13:21.

Above Mount Zion which symbolizes the Church, GOD will be a shade from the scorching heat by day.

- HE will provide rest for the weary: "Come to ME and I will refresh you" [Matthew 11:28].

- The new trends in the world can harm the unwary and the isolated but not those who live in the church community.

It seems however, that only a small remnant is assembled there on Mt. Zion.  Let us not say that only a small number of the elect [in which we number of course], will be saved for eternity.  It is better to say that the Church in this world will always seem to be a small remnant; likewise in what is called the Church or people of GOD, only a small number will live the promises of GOD [Luke 12:32].) 

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Let Us Discard Everything That Belongs To Darkness, And Let Us Put On The Armor Of Light

"You know what hour it is.  This is the time to awake, for our salvation is, now, nearer than when we first believed; the night is almost over, and day is at hand.  Let us discard, therefore, everything that belongs to darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  As we live in the full light of day, let us behave with decency; no banquets with drunkenness, no promiscuity or licentiousness, no fighting or jealousy.  Put on, rather, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and do not be led by the will of the flesh nor follow its desires." - Romans 13:11-14 

(You know what hour it is.  This is the time to awake.  Paul was just recalling the duties of a Christian in this world and he already turns to the opposite direction: beware of settling down in this world.  The Christian is always awaiting the coming of CHRIST.

During the first thirty years of the Church, all waited for the imminent return of JESUS.  When it became clear to them that history was being extended, they began thinking more of each one's last end: it was then that they would meet CHRIST.  In the present century we have come to realize that history is going towards an end and that we not only have to be ready for the last hour, but that we must also work for the evangelization of the world.  The Gospel is the power that, directly or indirectly, brings all human history to maturity; by living holy and responsible lives we hasten the coming of the kingdom of GOD [2 Peter 3:11-12].)

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