December 4th, 2003, Monday of the first week of Advent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

This is what Isaiah, son of Amos, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come, the mountain of the Lord's House shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills.

All nations shall stream toward it.

Many peoples shall come and say, come, let us climb the Lord's Mountain to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.

For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations and impose terms on many peoples.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. One nation shall not raise the sword against another,

nor shall they train for war again. O House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. The Word of the Lord.

The Psalm response, let us go rejoicing to the House of the Lord. I rejoiced because they said to me,

we will go up to the House of the Lord, and now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. Let us go rejoicing

to the house of the Lord. According to the decree for Israel to give thanks to the name of the

Lord, in it are set up judgment seats, seats for the House of David. Let us go rejoicing to the House of the Lord.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May those who love you prosper. May peace be within your walls,

prosperity in your buildings. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Because of my relatives and friends, I will say, peace be within you. Because of the house of the

Lord, our God. I will pray for your good.

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