Joseph Kenny OP: Readings Advent Tuesday 1

READINGS ADVENT TUESDAY 1
קוֹל קוֹרֵא בַּמִּדְבָּר פַּנּוּ דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה — יַשְּׁרוּ בָּעֲרָבָה מְסִלָּה לֵאלֹהֵינוּ׃
Even Years: Isaiah 2:6-22; 4:2-6
6 כִּי נָטַשְׁתָּה עַמְּךָ בֵּית יַעֲקֹב כִּי מָלְאוּ מִקֶּדֶם וְעֹנְנִים כַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים וּבְיַלְדֵי נָכְרִים יַשְׂפִּיקוּ׃
7 וַתִּמָּלֵא אַרְצוֹ כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב וְאֵין קֵצֶה לְאֹצְרֹתָיו וַתִּמָּלֵא אַרְצוֹ סוּסִים וְאֵין קֵצֶה לְמַרְכְּבֹתָיו׃
8 וַתִּמָּלֵא אַרְצוֹ אֱלִילִים לְמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַאֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֶצְבְּעֹתָיו׃
9 וַיִּשַּׁח אָדָם וַיִּשְׁפַּל־אִישׁ וְאַל־תִּשָּׂא לָהֶם׃
10 בּוֹא בַצּוּר וְהִטָּמֵן בֶּעָפָר מִפְּנֵי פַּחַד יְהוָה וּמֵהֲדַר גְּאֹנוֹ׃
11 עֵינֵי גַּבְהוּת אָדָם שָׁפֵל וְשַׁח רוּם אֲנָשִׁים וְנִשְׂגַּב יְהוָה לְבַדּוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא׃ ס
12 כִּי יוֹם לַיהוָה צְבָאוֹת עַל כָּל־גֵּאֶה וָרָם וְעַל כָּל־נִשָּׂא וְשָׁפֵל׃
13 וְעַל כָּל־אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן הָרָמִים וְהַנִּשָּׂאִים וְעַל כָּל־אַלּוֹנֵי הַבָּשָׁן׃
14 וְעַל כָּל־הֶהָרִים הָרָמִים וְעַל כָּל־הַגְּבָעוֹת הַנִּשָּׂאוֹת׃
15 וְעַל כָּל־מִגְדָּל גָּבֹהַ וְעַל כָּל־חוֹמָה בְצוּרָה׃
16 וְעַל כָּל־אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ וְעַל כָּל־שְׂכִיּוֹת הַחֶמְדָּה׃
17 וְשַׁח גַּבְהוּת הָאָדָם וְשָׁפֵל רוּם אֲנָשִׁים וְנִשְׂגַּב יְהוָה לְבַדּוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא׃
18 וְהָאֱלִילִים כָּלִיל יַחֲלֹף׃
19 וּבָאוּ בִּמְעָרוֹת צֻרִים וּבִמְחִלּוֹת עָפָר מִפְּנֵי פַּחַד יְהוָה וּמֵהֲדַר גְּאוֹנוֹ בְּקוּמוֹ לַעֲרֹץ הָאָרֶץ׃
20 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יַשְׁלִיךְ הָאָדָם אֵת אֱלִילֵי כַסְפּוֹ וְאֵת אֱלִילֵי זְהָבוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ־לוֹ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לַחְפֹּר פֵּרוֹת וְלָעֲטַלֵּפִים׃
21 לָבוֹא בְּנִקְרוֹת הַצֻּרִים וּבִסְעִפֵי הַסְּלָעִים מִפְּנֵי פַּחַד יְהוָה וּמֵהֲדַר גְּאוֹנוֹ בְּקוּמוֹ לַעֲרֹץ הָאָרֶץ׃
22 חִדְלוּ לָכֶם מִן־הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר נְשָׁמָה בְּאַפּוֹ כִּי־בַמֶּה נֶחְשָׁב הוּא׃ פ...
4: 2 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה צֶמַח יְהוָה לִצְבִי וּלְכָבוֹד וּפְרִי הָאָרֶץ לְגָאוֹן וּלְתִפְאֶרֶת לִפְלֵיטַת יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
3 וְהָיָה הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּצִיּוֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר בִּירוּשָׁלַםִ קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֶר לוֹ כָּל־הַכָּתוּב לַחַיִּים בִּירוּשָׁלָםִ׃
4 אִם רָחַץ אֲדֹנָי אֵת צֹאַת בְּנוֹת־צִיּוֹן וְאֶת־דְּמֵי יְרוּשָׁלַםִ יָדִיחַ מִקִּרְבָּהּ בְּרוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט וּבְרוּחַ בָּעֵר׃
5 וּבָרָא יְהוָה עַל כָּל־מְכוֹן הַר־צִיּוֹן וְעַל־מִקְרָאֶהָ עָנָן יוֹמָם וְעָשָׁן וְנֹגַהּ אֵשׁ לֶהָבָה לָיְלָה כִּי עַל־כָּל־כָּבוֹד חֻפָּה׃
6 וְסֻכָּה תִּהְיֶה לְצֵל־יוֹמָם מֵחֹרֶב וּלְמַחְסֶה וּלְמִסְתּוֹר מִזֶּרֶם וּמִמָּטָר׃ פ
Odd Years: Isaiah 8:1-18
1 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי קַח־לְךָ גִּלָּיוֹן גָּדוֹל וּכְתֹב עָלָיו בְּחֶרֶט אֱנוֹשׁ לְמַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז׃
2 וְאָעִידָה לִּי עֵדִים נֶאֱמָנִים אֵת אוּרִיָּה הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶת־זְכַרְיָהוּ בֶּן יְבֶרֶכְיָהוּ׃
3 וָאֶקְרַב אֶל־הַנְּבִיאָה וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי קְרָא שְׁמוֹ מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז׃
4 כִּי בְּטֶרֶם יֵדַע הַנַּעַר קְרֹא אָבִי וְאִמִּי יִשָּׂא אֶת־חֵיל דַּמֶּשֶׂק וְאֵת שְׁלַל שֹׁמְרוֹן לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר׃ ס
5 וַיֹּסֶף יְהוָה דַּבֵּר אֵלַי עוֹד לֵאמֹר׃
6 יַעַן כִּי מָאַס הָעָם הַזֶּה אֵת מֵי הַשִּׁלֹחַ הַהֹלְכִים לְאַט וּמְשׂוֹשׂ אֶת־רְצִין וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָהוּ׃
7 וְלָכֵן הִנֵּה אֲדֹנָי מַעֲלֶה עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת־מֵי הַנָּהָר הָעֲצוּמִים וְהָרַבִּים אֶת־מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וְאֶת־כָּל־כְּבוֹדוֹ וְעָלָה עַל־כָּל־אֲפִיקָיו וְהָלַךְ עַל־כָּל־גְּדוֹתָיו׃
8 וְחָלַף בִּיהוּדָה שָׁטַף וְעָבַר עַד־צַוָּאר יַגִּיעַ וְהָיָה מֻטּוֹת כְּנָפָיו מְלֹא רֹחַב־אַרְצְךָ עִמָּנוּ אֵל׃ ס
9 רֹעוּ עַמִּים וָחֹתּוּ וְהַאֲזִינוּ כֹּל מֶרְחַקֵּי־אָרֶץ הִתְאַזְּרוּ וָחֹתּוּ הִתְאַזְּרוּ וָחֹתּוּ׃
10 עֻצוּ עֵצָה וְתֻפָר דַּבְּרוּ דָבָר וְלֹא יָקוּם כִּי עִמָּנוּ אֵל׃ ס
11 כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה אֵלַי כְּחֶזְקַת הַיָּד וְיִסְּרֵנִי מִלֶּכֶת בְּדֶרֶךְ הָעָם־הַזֶּה לֵאמֹר׃
12 לֹא־תֹאמְרוּן קֶשֶׁר לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַר הָעָם הַזֶּה קָשֶׁר וְאֶת־מוֹרָאוֹ לֹא־תִירְאוּ וְלֹא תַעֲרִיצוּ׃
13 אֶת־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֹתוֹ תַקְדִּישׁוּ וְהוּא מוֹרַאֲכֶם וְהוּא מַעֲרִצְכֶם׃
14 וְהָיָה לְמִקְדָּשׁ וּלְאֶבֶן נֶגֶף וּלְצוּר מִכְשׁוֹל לִשְׁנֵי בָתֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפַח וּלְמוֹקֵשׁ לְיוֹשֵׁב יְרוּשָׁלִָם׃
15 וְכָשְׁלוּ בָם רַבִּים וְנָפְלוּ וְנִשְׁבָּרוּ וְנוֹקְשׁוּ וְנִלְכָּדוּ׃ ס
16 צוֹר תְּעוּדָה חֲתוֹם תּוֹרָה בְּלִמֻּדָי׃
17 וְחִכִּיתִי לַיהוָה הַמַּסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מִבֵּית יַעֲקֹב וְקִוֵּיתִי־לוֹ׃
18 הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי וְהַיְלָדִים אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לִי יְהוָה לְאֹתוֹת וּלְמוֹפְתִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעִם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת הַשֹּׁכֵן בְּהַר צִיּוֹן׃ ס

Even Years: St. Gregory Nazianzen, Sermon 45 (PG 36, 634-5,654,658-9,662)
Τὸ δὲ ἦν, αὐτὸς ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγος. ὁ προαιώνιος, ὁ ἀόρατος, ὁ ἀπερίληπτος, ὁ ἀσώματος, ἡ ἐκ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἀρχὴ, τὸ ἐκ τοῦ φωτὸς φῶς, ἠ πηγὴ τῆς ζωῆς καὶ τῆς ἀθανασίας, τὸ ἐκμαγεῖον τοῦ ἀρχετύπου, ἡ μὴ κινουμένη σφραγὶς, ἡ ἀπαράλλακτος εἰκὼν, ὁ τοῦ Πατρὸς ὅρος καὶ λόγος, ἐπὶ τὴν ἰδίαν εἰκόνα χωρεῖ, καὶ σάρκα φορεῖ διὰ τὴν σάρκα, καὶ ψυχῇ νοερᾷ διὰ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχὴν μίγνυται, τῷ ὁμοιῷ τὸ ὅμοιον ανακαθαίρων καὶ πάντα γίνεται, πλὴν τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἄνθρωπος· κυηθεὶς μὲν ἐκ τῆς Παρθένου, καὶ ψυχὴν καὶ σάρκα προκαθαρθείσης τῷ Πνεύματι (ἔδει γὰρ, καὶ γέννησιν τιμηθῆναι, καὶ παρθενίαν προτιμηθῆναι), προελθὼν δὲ Θεὸς μετὰ τῆς προσλήψεως, ἕν ἐκ δύο τῶν ἐναντίων, σαρκός καὶ πνεύματος, ὧν τὸ μὲν ἐθέωσε, τὸ δὲ ἐθεώθη... The Son of God himself, who is before all ages, the invisible, the incomprehensible, the bodiless, the beginning from the beginning, the light from the light, source of life and immortality, image of the archetype, immovable seal, unchangeable image, the Father's definition and Word, he it is who came to his own image and took to himself flesh for the sake of our flesh. Then he united himself with an intelligent soul for my soul's sake, purifying like by like. He took to himself all that is human, except sin. He was conceived by the Virgin who was first purified in body and soul by the Spirit. It was necessary both that childbearing be honoured and that virginity be honoured still more highly. He came forth as God with what he had taken to himself. Out of two contraries, flesh and spirit, he made one. The Spirit conferred divinity; the flesh received it.
Καὶ ὁ ἀχώρητος, χωρεῖται, διὰ μέσης ψυχῆς νοερᾶς μεσιτεθούσης θεότητι καὶ σαρκὸς παχύτητι· καὶ ὁ πλουτίζων πτωχεύει· πτωχεύει γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν σάρκα, ἵν ἐγὼ πλουτήσω τὴν αὐτοῦ θεότητα. Καὶ ὁ πλήρης κενοῦται· κενοῦται γὰρ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ δόξης ἐπὶ μικρὸν, ἵν ἐγὼ τῆς ἐκείνου μεταλάβω πληρώσεως. Τίς ὁ πλοῦτος τῆς ἀγαθότητος; τί τὸ περὶ ἐμὲ τοῦτο μυστήριον; Μετέλαβον τῆς εἰκόνος, καὶ οὐκ ἐφύλαξα· μεταλαμβάνει τῆς ἐμῆς σαρκὸς, ἵνα καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα σώσῇ, καὶ τὴ σάρκα ἀθανατίσῇ. Δευτέραν καινωνεῖ καινωνίαν, πολὺ τῆς προτέρας παραδοξοτέραν... [He who is inseparable is separated, by means of a rational soul mediating between divinity and the solidity of flesh.] He who enriches others becomes poor. He took to himself the poverty of my flesh so that I might obtain the riches of his godhead. He who is full empties himself. He emptied himself of his godhead for a brief time so that I might share in his fullness. What is this wealth of goodness? What is this mystery that touches me? I received the divine image and I did not keep it. He receives my flesh to save the image and grant immortality to the flesh. This, his second communion with us, is far more marvellous than the first.
Ἤ δῆλον, ὅτι λαμβάνει μὲν ὁ Πατὴρ, οὐκ αἰτήσας, οὐδὲ δεηθείς, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν οἰκονομίαν, καὶ τὸ χρῆναι αγιασθῆναι τῷ ἀνθρωπίνῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν ἄνθρωπον· ἵν αὐτὸς ἡμῆς ἐξέληται, τοῦ τυράννου βίᾳ κρατήσας, καὶ πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἐπαναγάθῇ διὰ τοῦ Υἱοῦ μεσιτεύσαντος, καὶ εἰς τιμὴν τοῦ Πατρὸς τοῦτο οἰκονομήσαντος, ᾧ τὰ πάντα παραχωρῶν φαίνεται... [It is clear that the Father accepted (the sacrifice of his Son), neither requesting nor needing it, but for his plan of salvation, and because] it was necessary that holiness be conferred on man through the humanity God took to himself. In this way, conquering the tyrant by force, he freed us and led us back to himself through his Son, the mediator. The Son brought this about to the honour of the Father to whom in all things, he is seen to defer.
Ὅτι ἐπὶ τὸ πλανώμενον ἤλθεν ὁ Ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς, ὁ τιθεὶς τὴν ψυχὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν προβάτων, ἐπὶ τὰ ὅρη καὶ τοὺς βουνοὺς, ἐφ ὧν ἐθυσίαζες, καὶ πλανώμενον εὗρε, καὶ εὗρὼν ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων ἀνέλαβεν, ἐφ ὧν καὶ τὸ ξύλον, καὶ λαβὼν ἐπανήγαγεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἄνω ζωὴν, καὶ ἀναγαγὼν τοῖς μένουσι συνηρίθμησεν· The good shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep, set out after the strayed sheep, on the mountains and hills on which you used to sacrifice. When he found the stray sheep he carried it on those same shoulders that bore the wood of the cross, and brought it back with him to the life above, [including it among the number of those that remained].
ὅτι τῷ προδρόμῳ λύχνῳ τὸ φῶς ἀκολουθεῖ τὸ ὑπέρλαμπρον, καὶ τῇ φωνῇ ὁ Λόγος, καὶ τῷ νυμφαγωγῷ ὁ νυμφίος, κατασκευάζοντι Κυρίῳ λαὸν περιούσιον, καὶ προκαθαίροντι ἐπὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα διὰ τοῦ ὕδατος The brightest of all lights follows the lamp that goes before him. The Word follows the voice in the wilderness. The bridegroom follows the friend of the bridegroom who is making ready for God a special people, cleansing them with water in anticipation of the Spirit.
Ἐδεήθημεν Θεοῦ σαρκουμένου καὶ νεκρουμένου, ἵνα ζήσωμεν· συνενεκρώθημεν, ἵνα καθαρῶμεν· συνανέστημεν, ἐπειδὴ We needed an incarnate God who would die that we might live. We died with him that we might be cleansed. We rose again with him because we died with him. We were glorified with him because we rose again with him.

Odd Years: Cyril of Alexandria, On Isaiah, Lib. 2:2 (PG PG 70, 67-71)
«Ὅτι ἔσται ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις ἐμφανὲς τὸ ὄρος Κυρίου, καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπ' ἄκρων τῶν ὀρέων. Καὶ ὑψωθήσεται ὑπεράνω τῶν βουνῶν, καὶ ἥξουσιν ἐπ' αὐτὸ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη»... Κατώρθωται δὲ καὶ τοῦτο τοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις, τοῦτ' ἔστιν, ἐν τελευταίοις τοῦ παρόντος αἰῶνος καιροῖς, καθ' οὓς ἐπέλαμψεν ὁ μονογενὴς τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγος, γενόμενος ἐκ γυναικός. Ὅτε καὶ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ παρέστησε τὴν νοητὴν Ἰουδαίαν, ἤγουν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, τοῦτ' ἔστιν, τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν παρθένον ἁγνὴν, μὴ ἔχουσαν σπῖλον, ἢ ῥυτίδα, ἤ τι τῶν τοιούτων, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον... In the last days the mountain of the Lord will stand out clearly and the house of the Lord will be on top of the mountain. It will be raised high above the hills, and all nations will stream toward it. This prophecy came true for the benefit of the whole human race in the last days, that is to say, in the final age of this world, when the Word of God, his only Son, appeared, born of a woman. Then, as Scripture says, he presented to himself the Church, the spiritual Judea or Jerusalem, as a pure virgin without stain or wrinkle or any other imperfection, holy and unblemished.
«Καὶ ἥξουσιν ἐπ' αὐτὸ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη· καὶ πορεύσονται ἔθνη πολλὰ καὶ ἐροῦσιν· Δεῦτε, ἀναβῶμεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἰακώβ. Καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ἡμῖν τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πορευσόμεθα ἐν αὐτῇ.» Ὅτι μὲν οὖν συνηθροίσθη πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ συνδεδραμήκασι διὰ τῆς πίστεως εἰς τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν, οὐ μακρῶν ἡμῖν δεήσει πρὸς ἀπόδειξιν λόγων. Αὐτὴ δὲ τῶν πραγμάτων ἡ ἔκβασις αὐτόμαρτυς ἔσται καὶ ἀληθής. Πλὴν ἐκεῖνο καταθαυμάζειν ἄξιον. Κέκληται γὰρ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἡ πληθὺς, οὐ διὰ τῆς τοῦ νόμου παιδαγωγίας, οὐ διὰ προφητῶν ἁγίων· ἀγείρει δὲ μᾶλλον αὐτὰ θεία τις καὶ ἀπόῤῥητος χάρις νοητῶς ἐλλάμπουσα, καὶ τῆς διὰ Χριστοῦ σωτηρίας ἐντιθεῖσα τὴν ἔφεσιν... All nations will stream toward it and many peoples will come and say: Let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his way and we will walk in it. There is no need of a lengthy argument to prove that, through faith, all nations have been brought together into the Church. The fact speaks for itself. This great multitude of peoples was called together not by instruction in the law, nor by the holy prophets, but by the secret working of God's grace enlightening their minds and making them long for Christ to save them.
Πρῶτον ἀναβαίνουσιν, εἶθ' οὕτω ζητοῦσιν ἐπαγγέλλεσθαί τε τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγον αὐτοῖς. Ὑπισχνοῦνται δὲ καὶ βαδίζειν τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ Κυρίου, δῆλον δὲ ὅτι τὴν εὐαγγελικὴν, προεισβολὴν ἔχουσαν τὴν διὰ πίστεως κάθαρσιν. Ἐοίκασι δὲ τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου ζητοῦντες μαθεῖν, τῆς ἀρχαίας ἐκείνης καὶ βεβήλου πλάνης προεισδέξασθαι τὴν κατάγνωσιν. Ἔσται γὰρ οὐχὶ ἑτέρως ἐν ἡμῖν τῶν βελτιόνων ἡ ἔφεσις, μὴ οὐχὶ δὴ πρῶτον προκατεγνωκότων τῶν πάλαι. Τίς οὖν ἄρα γέγονεν αὐτοῖς ὁ μυσταγωγός; Τίς ὁ ἀναφέρων εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας, καὶ ἀναπείθων αὐτοὺς καταγέλαστα μὲν ἡγεῖσθαι τὰ πρῶτα, προστρέχειν δὲ τοῖς δευτέροις; ἢ δηλονότι Θεός; ὁ καὶ ἐλλάμψας αὐτοῖς, ὡς ἔφην, εἰς νοῦν καὶ καρδίαν, καὶ ἀναπείσας εἰπεῖν τε ἅμα καὶ φρονεῖν, ὅτι «Ἐκ Σιὼν ἐξελεύσεται νόμος, καὶ λόγος Κυρίου ἐξ Ἱερουσαλήμ.» First they climb the mountain and then they seek to have the word of God preached to them. They promise to walk in the way the Lord, which is that of the Gospel, the entry to which is through the purification accomplished by faith. For those seeking to learn the way of the Lord must first renounce their past errors. We cannot long for something better until we reject what we held before. Who was their spiritual guide who brought them to a knowledge of the truth and persuaded them to regard as ridiculous their old way of thinking and to adopt a new one? Who but God? It was he who illumined their minds and hearts and led them both to say and to believe that the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Ὁρίζεται τοίνυν τὸν καιρὸν, ὡς ἔφην, ὁ μακάριος προφήτης τῆς τῶν ἐθνῶν κλήσεως καὶ ἐπιστροφῆς. Καὶ ποῖός ἐστιν οὗτος; Ὅτε, φησὶν, ὁ τῶν ὅλων Θεὸς, καὶ παμβασιλεὺς, καὶ Κύριος κρινεῖ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ἐθνῶν, τοῦτ' ἔστι, δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίσιν εἰς πάντα ποιεῖται τὰ ἔθνη. Κεκράτηκε μὲν γὰρ ἡ ἀδικία, καθάπερ ἔφην ἀρτίως, διαρπαζόντων ἄλληλα τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ πάντα τρόπον ἐπιφερόντων ἀγριότητος καὶ πλεονεξίας. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ ταῦτα γέγονεν ἐκ μέσου, δικαιοσύνη καὶ κρίσις δέδοται παρὰ Θεοῦ... The blessed prophet announced that the time was determined for the calling and the conversion of the Gentiles. This would take place, he said, when the God of the whole world, the universal King and Lord, judges all the nations and establishes justice among them. Previously, injustice was rampant as the nations plundered one another and practised every kind of cruelty and excess. But when such things are done away with, justice will be given us by God.
Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ βεβασίλευκε τῶν ἐθνῶν ὁ Χριστὸς, ὅς ἐστιν εἰρήνη, γέγονεν ἐκ μέσου πᾶσά τε διχόνοια καὶ ἔρις, καὶ μάχαι, καὶ πᾶν εἶδος πλεονεξίας· ἐξῄρηται δὲ καὶ τὰ ἐκ τοῦ πολέμου· βλάβη, καὶ τὰ ἐντεῦθεν δείματα· κεκράτηκε δὲ τὸ αὐτοῦ θέλημα λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτούς· «Εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν ἀφίημι ὑμῖν.» When Christ, who is peace, rules the nations all discord, strife, contention, and every kind of oppression will be banished, together with the injuries that give rise to war and the terrors that follow in its wake. The will of him who said, I leave you peace, my peace I give you, will be victorious.

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