THE WORD
Is 11: 1–10 / Lk 10: 21–24
Jesus rejoiced [in] the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
IN OTHER WORDS
“Peace is not the absence of war; it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence and justice.” Although eerily close to the words of Vatican II on peace and justice, these words actually came from Baruch (Benedict) Spinoza, a Jew who lived in 17th century Amsterdam after his family got expelled from Portugal on account of their faith. Even among the Dutch Jews who eventually drove him away from their synagogue because of his radical views on the Bible, Spinoza preserved his conviction about peace as a gift from above. In his lonely life as a lens grinder he sought consolation by way of reason. Faith, in his case, illumined reason.
Our history of salvation tells us that the prophet Isaiah bewailed the Assyrian violence and injustice against God’s people. In the name of God he vented his anger on the Israelites themselves for their act of injustice: their infidelity to the Covenant of love which they had forged with the Lord. This changed, of course, with the coming of Christ who promised lasting peace and blessing to God’s people, and beyond.
These days, as thousands of pilgrims journeyed to the Holy Land, they entered Jerusalem, the city of David, the city of peace (salem or shalom). Mingled with those pious pilgrims were two Pinoys, Percy and Flor, who went there on their wedding anniversary to thank the Lord for their many years of blissful marriage. Contrary to the frightening reports of deteriorating conditions in God’s city, the couple was delighted to find Jews rubbing elbows with Christians, Muslims praying in their respective places while plying their trades for a livelihood.
It was Advent, and together with millions all over the world the couple prayed that one day Jerusalem would truly and rightfully be the City of Peace. It was there that the Lord humbly seated himself on an ass and came as the Prince of Peace.
- Flor Lagura, SVD (Bordentown, NJ, USA)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
