今天我們誦讀一些選自《納鴻書》不同章節的經文。這些經文概括了先知的信息：他向以色列宣告喜訊，因為那座龐大的尼尼微城（它甚至有兩道城牆），這座兇殘的亞述帝國的首都，已被攻克並摧毀。

先知用生動的語言描述了最終決戰的慘烈景象，上主藉此審判並懲罰了這座邪惡的城市。

這是對上主應得的復仇的喜悅。

同時，這種喜悅也蘊含著悲傷：難道在漫長的歷史中，世界各地如此多的城市都必須依靠壓迫和屠殺窮人而繁榮昌盛，以至於窮人只能眼睜睜地看著他們的衰落而感到欣慰嗎？

不應該像兄弟姊妹一樣和平共處嗎？

We read today some verses, taken from different chapters of the Book of Nahum. They offer a synthesis of the message of the prophet: he announces a message of joy to Israel because the enormous city of Nineveh (she even had two rings of walls), the capital city of the ferocious Assyrian Empire, has been conquered and destroyed.

The prophet uses a very vivid language to describe the fury of the final battle, through which God has judged and sentenced the wicked city.

It is joy at a due revenge, wrought by God.

At the same time, such joy speaks sadness: is it so necessary that so many cities, all around the world, during the whole history, thrive by oppressing and killing the poor, so that those poor have only the joy to see their downfall?

Would it not be better to live together as brothers and sisters, in peace?