Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV)

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

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!

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Reflect

The last century witnessed two major world wars, which were closely followed by numerous civil wars and military coup d’etat. These upheavals have lingered into the 21st century across the continents of Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. They have political, economic, and social effects: loss of life, internally displaced persons, refugees, separated families, loss and destruction of resources, and political instability. In the United States the news of mass shootings and homicide has had its toll on us all. Psychological violence is equally devastating as it cuts into the very core of the victim’s personality.

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… That he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” We are called to be receptive to God’s love and to urge to love others as Christ has loved us. We are to share the love of God with all around us, mindful that the Christ who lives in us lives in our neighbor, too. We are to seek and cultivate methods of conflict resolution that are devoid of violence. We are invited to begin to conceive and be part of the actualization of a time when the resources and energies invested in planning and propagating violence will be redirected into building the kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.

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Pray

Lord, give us the courage to turn our swords into plowshares. Amen.

Go with God.