Isaiah 35:1-2, 5-7, 10
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
The Third Sunday of Advent
We continue the counter-cultural practice of waiting for Jesus' arrival into a world that wants and expects everything delivered yesterday. Mid-Lent breaks from repentance with the brighter mood of Laetare Sunday to encourage us "rejoice"; similarly, the third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete or rejoice Sunday, named after the opening of the traditional collect or gathering prayer for the day. The blue of hope is the new color for Advent; when churches have them, rose paraments replace blue for the third Sunday of Advent and the fourth Sunday in Lent.
This third Sunday celebrates Mary, Jesus' mother. Mary's Magnificat, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God My Savior" from Luke 1:46-55 is the appointed psalm for all three lectionary years. Mary singing "God has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty," foresees a world where humanity has become a common-wealth that flourishes the way the desert blooms.
Like last week's, today's first reading, Isaiah 35, follows chapter 34 about horrendous environmental devastation. All three sections of Isaiah are super-clear that the natural creation is not an incidental backdrop to God's activity, but lives and breathes as an integral part of God's story on earth. Scripture as a whole witnesses to the redemption, ransom, integrity, wholeness, restoration, and resurrection of the natural world—not only human creatures. "God writes the gospel not in the bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars," is attributed to Martin Luther. However, our frequent emphasis on humanity may be valid, because for the most part creation needs redemption because of human sin and greed.
Today's First Reading
As last week's blog noted, Isaiah's inspired words came into the southern kingdom at a time of political, economic, and cultural violence and uncertainty. Against God's constant scriptural counsel "do not fear," everyone had plenty of reasons to be frightened. Like last week's Isaiah 11:1-9, this week we receive pure promise, sheer proclamation of grace, mercy, healing, and a shalom-filled future. This announcement is gospel: it is very good news!
With springs of water, rivers of grass, flowers in blossom and bloom, the desert itself rejoices and sings. In this scripture, water is womb of re-creation. Have you ever visited the desert (Anza-Borrego, maybe?) in spring bloom? Water makes the difference; water restores life. Water is life!
Today's Gospel
In Isaiah 35:5-6, the blind will see, deaf will hear, lame will walk, speechless people won't only speak, they will sing! Today's gospel reading from Matthew echoes Isaiah:
Matthew 11
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" 4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.
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