A BANQUET FOR ALL PEOPLE

PRAYER MOMENT 

Wednesday 3 December 2014, S Francis Xavier

A BANQUET FOR ALL PEOPLES

             

Pause. Be still in God’s presence.

Reading: “On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines.” (Isaiah 25:6-10)

Reflection. On the plane I met a Swazi who told me that only in Canada did he feel he was truly accepted. I understood him to mean that wherever you are in Southern Africa, or the USA, there is always this lingering question from our segregationist past. ‘Who are you?’ Are you one of us or one of them? It is never articulated, of course, but it remains like a film on the surface of stale soup. Isaiah speaks eloquently during Advent of a new age when ‘the mourning veil covering all peoples will be destroyed for ever.’ And Jesus goes beyond words to actions when he actually feeds the multitude with a few loaves and fish. They did not understand at the time no more than Peter did when his feet were washed but we should be beginning to understand by now. We have had many ‘advents’ and many words. It is time to remove all that divides us, one from another.   

Prayer. Lord, we pray this Advent that you help us remove the veil between us; that you lead us into the unity, the community, to which you call us. Amen.  

David Harold-Barry SJ