New Year Hopes – The First Sunday of Advent
Today is the first day of a new liturgical year. Happy New Year, everyone!
The first reading today is from the book of Isaiah, a vision of a world at peace.
“In 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; many peoples shall come and say: ‘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.’
For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jesrusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the Lord!”
Isaiah 2: 2-5
May these words be our guide in the coming year, as we work to bring peace and justice to our families, our communities, our nations, and our world.