In today’s first reading, Is. 29:17-24, we read about the promised Messiah. Through the prophet Isaiah, God says to us:
In a very short time, Lebanon [the world] will become rich farmland,
and the rich farmland will seem like a forest.
At that time the deaf will hear the words of a book;
instead of having darkness and gloom, the blind will see.
The Lord will make the poor people happy;
they will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Then the people without mercy will come to an end;
those who do not respect God will disappear.
Those who enjoy doing evil will be gone:
those who lie about others in court,
those who trap people in court,
those who lie and take justice from innocent people
in court (Is. 29: 17-21, The New Century Version or the Bible).
How seriously do we take this prophesy. The prophet Isaiah is not only talking to the people of his day but to us as well. Truly, the world as we know it will be changed. God will open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. Blindness and deafness to the needs of the poor and oppressed; blindness and deafness to justice will be removed. Leaders throughout the world and in any segment of society, all peoples, great and small, “shall hear the words” of the Scriptures, the Torah, the Hindu Vedas, the Quran—the holy books of all religions. Yes, people without mercy will come to an end; those who do not respect God will disappear” (Is. 29: 20).
God has promised and God will do it! May we not lose faith as we wait for the fulfillment of this prophesy in the world of today! I believe it. Do you?
