The night and the dawn

“I’m shouted at from Seir: ‘Lookout, how much is left of the night? Lookout, how much is left of the night? The lookout answers: ‘The morning will come and the evening will come too. If you want to ask again, come back” (Prophet Isaiah 21, 11-12).

The exegete comments: “It is the night on the stage of history: we don’t see or know how much is left to clear up. A sentinel prophet seeps into the darkness and measures time. Everybody turns to him asking for information. He doesn’t have it for now, but waits to receive it. The oracle goes back to silence and waits” (Luis Alonso Schökel).


The mystic of the night states: “I know well the source that flows and runs” (Juan de la Cruz, 16th C).


The poet glosses: “At night we will go, at night, because to find the source only thirst lights us up” (Luis Rosillo).


Ask again and search in the silence. Let yourself be guided by the light you carry even if it is the night. The prophecy matches with the silence, thirst with water, the night with the dawn, the night with the question and with hope. Hope makes the dawn break.