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In the days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of the mountains. It will be lifted above the hills; people will stream to it. (Isaiah 2.2) IT is with these lofty words from Isaiah that our liturgical year starts anew.
In the darkness of winter, we wait with anxious anticipation for the coming of Jesus, our Saviour. In Tiberias, as in many churches throughout the world, we prepare ourselves for Christmas by lighting the candles on our Advent wreath, in HOPE, for PEACE, in JOY, with LOVE, hearing each Sunday the words from our holy scriptures speaking to the deepest longings of our hearts. We begin our year in HOPE, and our readings for the first Sunday of Advent off er us poetic visions of the promised kingdom. The ancient words of the prophet Isaiah assure us that one day God will judge between the nations, and settle disputes of mighty nations. Then they will beat their swords into iron plows and their spears into pruning tools. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war. (Isaiah 2.4)