Thoughts for the Day

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death for ever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

During Advent we shall look at the people, places and symbols that invite us to prepare for the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas. They will not necessarily occur in the right order! Today we look at the symbol of 'The Feast'.

In Chapter 24 Isaiah is writing of the Apocalypse, the end-times, that frequently uses the kind of symbolism also seen in the books of Revelation and Daniel. He sees this as a time when God is in control and when all will be brought to judgement. It is often called 'The Day of the Lord'. The breaking of the everlasting covenant that God's people had made with Him has led to a defiled earth that no longer produces crops, and to the destruction of cities by some kind of overwhelming catastrophe. These are signs that the Lord is coming to judge all things and to usher in a new reign on earth and in heaven.

Now in Chapter 25 Isaiah foresees that after the time of disaster this new era will be celebrated with a feast, rather like the one that happened when the covenant was originally agreed between God and His people (Exodus 24.9-11). But the difference this time is that not just the 'elders', but all the peoples of the earth, will be invited to taste the finest of wines and the richest of foods. It will be a time of great celebration for all who have been faithful; and a time of great joy, for we shall see God as He truly is. Lastly we should notice the lovely images of God wiping away our tears, even as He destroys death.

Just as feasts have always celebrated times of joy, as at a wedding, so God's people will be invited to what will be the completion of God's Kingdom, which is after all only partially present at this time.

Heavenly Father,
as Isaiah foresaw a future that was terrifying,
but also one that would result in great joy,
so may we put our fears on one side
and faithfully work towards the completion
of Your Kingdom.
May we be ready to hear the call
to return home to You,
to celebrate the feast
that awaits Your faithful children.
Amen.