***
Isaiah 25: 6-10
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
The Word of the Lord.
***
***
Mountains are one of the most popular images used in the bible, appearing more than 500 times. The writers of both the New and Old Testaments were greatly familiar with them, as they dotted the terrain where the scriptures were written.
Mountains were seen as a meeting point between God, who dwells in the heavens, and his creation, dwelling here on earth. Thus, some of the most important passages in the bible occur on mountains.
***
In the Old Testament, Moses received the 10 Commandments on a mountain. Jerusalem, the holy city containing the Temple – God’s dwelling place on earth – is also built upon a mountain.
In the New Testament, Jesus is tempted by Satan on a mountain. He preaches his first public sermon, the Beatitudes, on a mountain. He is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, upon a mountain, and is later crucified upon the mount of Calvary.
***
It’s fitting, then, as we begin our journey through Advent that the Church provides us with this vision from the prophet Isaiah in our first reading, who sees what happens at the end of time.
God and his creation will commune together, sharing a heavenly meal on a mountain.
“On this mountain,” he says, “the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines… He will destroy death forever… and will wipe away the tears from all faces. On that day it will be said: Let us rejoice and be glad that God has saved us!’”
***
What a beautiful image of hope!
As we await that glorious day when we are one with God and one another, the Lord provides a feast of “rich food and choice wine” at Mass, his very own Body and Blood from the mount of this altar, to console and strengthen us on our pilgrim way.
May Jesus, who has loved us and given himself for us, guide us along the way of peace, as we journey together towards the eternal mountain of the Lord.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Bible Art (2) Rare Historical Photos, Mountains of the Holy Land, 1915 (3) Isaiah 2:1-5, YouTube