the picnic on the mountain
"Behold our God, to Whom we looked to save us!" —Isaiah 25:9
In Monday's reading from Isaiah, we were invited to climb the Lord's mountain, and we're still climbing it today. After the ardors of mountain-climbing, the Lord treats us to a mountain-top "feast of rich food and choice wines; juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines" (Is 25:6).
This is only the beginning. "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" (Is 25:7-8). The veil is removed; we can see. The web is gone; we are free. Death is conquered; we are victorious. The tears are wiped away; we are rejoicing. Our reproach is removed; we are healed.
Advent is like climbing the mountain where we receive the fullness of our salvation. Salvation was won on Calvary. It is finalized in heaven, and is unfolding now in our everyday lives this Advent. On the mountain, Jesus did it all. He saved us from sin, confusion, slavery, depression, shame, death, Satan, and hell. "Let us rejoice and be glad that He has saved us!" (Is 25:9)
Prayer: Jesus, I accept You as Savior, Lord, and God.
Promise: "Large crowds of people came to Him bringing with them cripples, the deformed, the blind, the mute, and many others besides. They laid them at His feet and He cured them." —Mt 15:30
Praise: David, who was physically blind, came to "see" and accept Jesus as his Savior in the last minutes of his life.
Reference: (To climb the Lord's mountain, read the Bible daily. For encouragement, order any or all of these audio or video tapes: Ignorance of Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ, AV 82-1, V-82, How to Pray the Bible on audio AV 82-3 or on video V-82, How to Read the Bible on audio AV 46-3 or on video V-46, Principles of Bible Interpretation, audio AV 79-1, video V-79.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard Walling, July 7, 2004
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 19, 2004