Sunday, December 2, 2007

Isaiah and the new Era of Peace

The first Scriptural reading at today's Sunday Mass, which was from Isaiah 2, included these two, very familar sentences :
"They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore."

As I listened to the reading at Mass I could not help wonder if the entire passage, as shown below, did not refer to the new Era of Peace which I discussed in my last post?

Isaiah 2

The Mountain of the Lord
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In the last days

the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He will judge between the nations

and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

5 Come, O house of Jacob,

let us walk in the light of the LORD.


Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

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