by Orlando Hernandez

The readings for this Wednesday’s Mass are so precious. They illustrate our faith, our Church, and our ministries in such wonderful ways. Most of all, of course, they display the love and compassion that the All-Mighty God feels for us, and acts upon.
Today I will focus on the first reading from Isaiah. The prophet fills our hearts with hope:

“ On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.”
(Is 25:6)

This “mountain” can mean so many things for us Christian Catholics. It certainly makes me think of the heights to which the Liturgy of the Mass can take us. I pray every day that more and more Catholics may give the Eucharist a second chance. The Lord of Hosts lovingly waits there for all of us, no matter how long we have been away from Him. On that blessed day when my life changed after so many sinful years, even after confession, I looked fearfully upon that risen Host. He beckoned me with such love! He is the one who gives us the chance! He provides a solemn but joyful feast. He feeds us individually with His very self, “rich food,” indeed.
For me the mountain can also be the place where we celebrate God’s love for us with family and friends, on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day
(which is right around the corner, bless God!), a festive, joyous time, with lots of food, laughter, and love. This is certainly true for many of us in our beautiful country, thank You Lord. But in so many places here and throughout the world, where loneliness, hopelessness, and hunger reigns, it is another story. Yet even in those places the compassion of God reaches many through the charitable work of so many good people who even risk their lives to feed and shelter the homeless, the displaced, the lost and lonely.

What about those for whom any kind of help is impossible? Where is their mountain? Isaiah goes on to say:

“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 will wipe away the tears from all faces.” (Is 25: 7-8a)

This mountain is, in the end, found in a realm beyond our physical world. Do you believe? Do you believe in such a place? I do, and I know that I am not alone. So many of us have felt, so many times, such powerful waves of Divine Love, that no-one can convince us otherwise. There is hope, hope in a life of Eternal Bliss in the arms of our God: no more hunger, no more tears, no more bondage, no more death. He promised us.
Do we deserve this? I ask myself this question every day. And then I think of another mountain, a sad place, and yet the place of God’s Glory. On the crag of Golgotha Love itself was tortured and murdered by our human race. But this Love has resurrected and reigns from the Throne of Heaven. This Love is forever, and it is all-powerful in Its mercy and forgiveness. I trust in His Love, and, in repentance and humility, I worship Him, Jesus, my Lord and Savior, my Hero, my Friend, my Guide, my Spouse, the Word of God, Who “has spoken”.
The passage from Isaiah ends like this:

“The reproach of His people He will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said : ‘Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that He has saved us!’ For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.” (Is 25: 8b-9)

In action and prayer, may I strive, hand after hand, step by step, only with His help, to climb this Holy Mountain, so that His loving hand may also rest upon my heart.

Orlando Hernández