I’ve been reading Isaiah this week, and the first part of chapter 2 had some shimmering phrases which moved me. Give these few verses a read (2:2-5).
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!
The phrases which caught me were “we may walk in [God’s] paths” and “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” I hear the desire in the first phrase, the desire of a people who see something different and are drawn to it.. There will be a day where the glory of God displayed through the loving/flourishing way of God’s people will be so compelling that the hearts of all people will be turned toward the Lord.
It’s easy for us to despair when we see how the Church and her people exist in the world. Yet, I assure you, it is not all darkness. There are still lights set on hills, shining into the darkness. Just open your eyes and look around you.
Yes, I know the prophet Isaiah wasn’t writing to 21st century westerners. Still, we can see what God was doing then and hope for what God will do in the future. May the Lord hasten the day where people turn away from destructive systems and cycles and turn toward the Way of Love. And may we be a compelling people who walk in the light of Love.