Catholic Commentary on Baruch 5

“For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.” (Baruch 5:9)

Jerusalem Encouraged

Baruch addresses Jerusalem directly: take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness from God; put on your head the crown of the glory of the Everlasting. For God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, Righteous Peace, Godly Glory. Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.

The Catechism identifies the vision of Jerusalem dressed in glory and leading its children home as the eschatological image of the Church as the new Jerusalem (CCC 1044).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory. The exile is ending. The garment of sorrow is being replaced by the robe of righteousness. The children scattered east and west are being gathered at the word of the Holy One. Look toward the east. They are coming. The joy of the homecoming has already been declared by the prophet who saw it from the ruins.

Prayer

Lord God, lead us with joy in the light of your glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

5
1 Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God. 2 God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour. 3 For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven. 4 For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety. 5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God. 6 For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the kingdom. 7 For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. 8 Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God. 9 For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.

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