It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of Armies, and to keep the feast of booths.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 16. Left. That is, many of them that persecuted the Church shall be converted to its faith and communion, ( Challoner.) particularly after Constantine. Calmet.—Tabernacles. This feast was kept by the Jews, in memory of their sojourning forty years in the desert, in their way to the land of promise. And in the spiritual sense, is duly kept by all such Christians as in their earthly pilgrimage are continually advancing towards their true home, the heavenly Jerusalem, by the help of the sacraments and sacrifice of the Church. And they that neglect this, must not look for the kind showers of divine grace to give fruitfulness to their souls. Challoner.—Out of the Church there is no salvation. Calmet.—Other things may be obtained. S. Cyp. Bible.—The converts shall celebrate the Christian festivals, and merit great rewards, while infidels shall remain barren and devoid of eternal happiness. Worthington.—We have no solemnity of tabernacles; but Gentiles keep the Epiphany in thanksgiving for their vocation to God’s admirable light. 1 Pet 2:9. Calmet.