Reflection for December 2

Isaiah 2:1-5

β€œπ‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘  π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘€π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘  π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘–π‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘œπ‘œπ‘˜π‘ ; π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘ π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘–π‘›π‘ π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ, π‘›π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘› π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘–π‘›.”

Isaiah’s vision of turning swords into plowshares is an enduring call that, despite its depth, is often ignored as we persist in cycles of violence rather than embracing peace. The world is fraught with division, conflict, and war, and the temptation to stoke tribalism, sow discord, and escalate hostilities. Isaiah offers a different path: a future where people and nations unite, not through force, but by coming together through God’s grace.

During Advent, this message is especially poignant. It’s a time of preparation, not just for the birth of Christ, but for the transformation of the world. Isaiah challenges us to rethink how we engage with others, calling us to reforge our own metaphorical swordsβ€”anger, insularity, selfishnessβ€”into tools of healing and cooperation. This is a call for personal and societal transformation.

Isaiah’s message invites us to step away from cycles of conflict and walk in the light of the Lord, cultivating peace and justice. Advent asks us not just to wait for Christ but to actively participate in shaping a world that reflects His love and compassion. By diverting our energies away from conflict and towards understanding and reconciliation, we may yet fulfill Isaiah’s vision to bring about a world where peace can flourish.

Mike Mongillo

Caelie Flanagan