Back in the summer of 2002, when I spent a summer down in the South American countries of Chile
& Argentina on a fellowship with a group of teachers from all across the United States, I learned a lot about the turmoil and chaos this part of the
world experienced during the military dictatorships of the 1970s and
1980s. Thousands of people in these 2
countries who were viewed as the enemies of the military, those who had spoken
out against the government, were kidnapped and disappeared during those
years. In both Chile and Argentina,
groups of women organized to speak out through acts of civil disobedience about
the kidnappings and disappearances of their family members and loved ones. They envisioned a country where peace and
justice would prevail, and their acts of speaking out were instrumental in the
demise of the military regimes in their countries. What these ladies experienced could have
turned them to anger and bitterness, frustration and futility. Instead, their courageous actions influenced
by their Catholic faith brought healing and growth not only to their own lives
and the lives of their families, but also to their entire country and to others
who hear about their story throughout the world.
Today’s
reading from Isaiah describes a vision of harmony and peace using a depiction
of God’s holy mountain. This reference
to the holy mountain invites us to imagine a place where all “harm or ruin” would be removed, where
all living creatures of the world would find peace. We are invited to envision
wolves being guests with lambs, lions eating hay like oxen, and all humans and animals
being led by children. May we be called
each day to find moments where we are co-creators with both God and others to
have holy mountain moments. Let us hold in our hearts God’s message: “There
shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled
with knowledge…”
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