God's Challenge to Us in Isaiah 29: 17-24

 In today's first reading, Isaiah 29: 17-24,  the Lord God speaks to us through the prophet Isaiah as follows:  "But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.  The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will be gone; all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man  with an empty claim."

Woe to those whom the Lord, in this prophesy, confronts for their wrongdoing: those involved in evil, those who condemn others with merciless, unforgiving, condemning words; those who are arrogant and govern or interact with others tyrannically! But joy and bliss for those who followed the law of the Lord here on earth, who reached out to the poor, the oppressed and downtrodden; who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and provided shelter for the homeless; who governed wisely, loved tenderly and acted justly in all of their undertaking. Their eyes and ears will be opened, their souls will be inundated with joy!  Joy and bless, also, to those who, on earth, were victimized and treated unjustly, for, in heaven, "the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will be gone."

As you and I reflect upon this passage, we need to take note: are we the ones who oppress others by what we say or don't say, by what we do or don't do? Are we the ones acting arrogantly, harshly, unforgivingly, mercilessly toward others?  Are we involved in evil? Are we complicit with others doing evil things to our neighbor or to members of our family? Or are we the ones in whom, on this earth, the poor and oppressed can rejoice, knowing that we will bring whatever relief we can to their difficult situations? Do the children within our homes know that they will be heard and treated with respect but also given the structure and counsel they they need to become the best person that God has called them to become as adults?  Does our spouse know that he/she can count on us to be there as a faithful, God-fearing partner? Do my fellow religious/priests/deacons know that they can count on me to give 100% to building up the Kingdom and bring others to Jesus?