In a very special way our First Reading from Isaiah reminds us that Almighty God, our loving mother and father, created the world and everything in it for everyone everywhere throughout time. There is so much about creationism and evolution that I don't fully understand, but I have come to the conclusion that God did not expect any one of us to understand how she/he does things or has done things. I know that we have all received a brain, a mind, to continually make an effort to enrich our lives and better the human condition.
Today is Monday, the 25th of July, and yesterday in the late evening we were blessed with a much needed rain. It had been dry for so long that we were all reminded how important water is to life. "Thus says the Lord: All you who are thirsty, come to the water." I have lived through droughts and dry years in my lifetime and seen the plight of ranchers and farmers that results in the lack of rain and water. I was always impressed by the efforts that people put forth to have even drinking water for themselves and their flocks. Of course, water was necessary on the farms in order to produce food. The intricate ditch irrigation system that we find throughout New Mexico attests to the fact that we face a challenge and it is admirable to see how many people have accepted that challenge and solved problems.
However Isaiah is saying so much more than that water is important. "You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!" This may seem that God is saying that food and nourishment is there for us to enjoy; however, the reading of the whole passage reminds us that we must use our minds to plan and, as a human family, look out for each other so that no one is left without the basics for life, food, water, shelter, etc. That is why ideally democracy challenges us to elect the
people who have the will and the know-how to see to it that all these needs are met by everyone. We are not living in a perfect world so as a society we fall short; and as a result so many people throughout the world and in our own country do not have the basics nor a life with dignity. It is only when we as a society accept the responsibilities that we can make sense of the following words. "Heed me and you shall eat well. You shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen that you may have life."
Every time I read passages from the prophet Isaiah I am made aware how God challenges us to use our minds and abilities to co-create with him a world in which everyone can have a foretaste of the eternal happiness of heaven.