The Lord says this: I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant islands that have never heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations. As an offering to the Lord they will bring all your brothers, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, on dromedaries, from all the nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem, says the Lord, like Israelites bringing oblations in clean vessels to the Temple of the Lord. And of some of them I will make priests and Levites, says the Lord.
First reading for 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 66:18-21
The covenant with Israel is not the limit to God’s graciousness to humankind. All humankind is invited to communion with God – but Israel as’first-born’ has a privileged place amongst the intended gathering of the nations.
The nations first need to learn the ways of the Lord – as Israel has and continues to need to do…
This passage of from Isaiad is preceded and followed by images of the devastation that comes as a consequence of disobedience…
Communion in the holiness of God is no casual matter!
Photograph (c) 2014, Allen Morris. Kanonica Str, Cracow, Poland
Living Eucharist 