-Feb 4th, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first reading (Is 6.1-8) has Isaiah`s vision of the Lord and seraphim in which he exclaims, `I am a man of unclean lips.` Isaiah says this after five chapters of speaking. Most prophetic books begin with words like `the word of the Lord came to…` Not so with Isaiah who sees the Lord after five chapters, not hears him. During the vision, a seraphim purifies Isaiah`s mouth (i.e., the unclean lips) but not his eyes. The Gospel (Lk 5.1-12) parallels Isaiah in that Peter recognizes Jesus` divinity: no cleansing is involved though this excerpt is followed quickly by the cleansing of a leper.
-People here are disgusted with what`s going on in Iraq, especially the recent bomb blast that killed around 130. Much anger is directed against Bush though is muted. I believe Icelanders still relay upon their physical isolation and country`s name to keep distance from world politics, though there seems a growing sense that those days are over. As for Iraq, I get a kick out of those reports saying that Iraq is `slipping into civil war` and another study that the situation is `precarious.` Someone must be making big bucks for that.
-Yesterday mostly consisted of off and on snow showers, nothing major, but at least they whitened up an otherwise dun-colored landscape.
-It`s a good feeling to have an Icelandic driver`s license chiefly due to the crazy driving habits here. Should I get into an accident…and I fear that all the time…at least I would have proper identification.