And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

Yesterday we talked about how the Jewish nation perceived God to be present in the Temple in a unique way that doesn’t have a parallel in Christianity.

It is this presence that the first verse of this text refers to–the very presence of the Lord will be revealed, not just to the priests, or to the faithful, or even to all of the chosen people, but to “all people.”

It’s important to remember that, while the Jews were a chosen race set apart from the rest of the world, they were chosen to be a witness to show God to the world. The commandment of Christ in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything I have commanded you,” continues that mission in spirit, if not in every detail.

The Matthew 28 command continues, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” These verses, often referred to as the Great Commission, are typically read as instructions to evangelize. They are, but we can miss the reference to the end of the age–the second coming–that is also part of it.

The prophet’s good news that the presence of the Lord will be revealed is followed by a reminder that it will happen in spite of our failings and frailty. We are like the grass and flowers, but the word of our God endures forever.