Isaiah 35:1-10: The Holy Road
Monday, December 5, 2022
Daily headlines may lead us into thinking that we have no reason for hope in the future. Isaiah tells us that we would be mistaken. Isaiah gives us reason to enter into Advent hope, promise and joy.
Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower . . .
All peoples and places where terror and pain rule will celebrate Christ’s healing rescue.
Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart!
All injury and harm that is meant to destroy will transform sorrow into joy with the Spirit’s comforting presence.
God is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs.
All evil and darkness that whips up angry and anxiety will become tools for transformation with God’s renewing power.
Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song.
Jesus healed hundreds and fed thousands when he walked among us; Christ continues to restore and sustain.
Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain.
The Spirit brings about the impossible; the Creator fulfills all promise.
There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road.
Jesus has shown us The Way in which we are to walk – with the marginalized rather than the powerful, with the abandoned rather than the famous and beautiful, with the abandoned rather than the familiar.
It’s impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it. No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals – nothing and no one dangerous or threatening.
The Way is the Narrow Gate that stands before us. When we trust in God the door to this way opens to us. When we follow Christ the narrow gate opens wide. When we have faith in God the Holy Road opens at our feet . . . inviting us to move forward into a future full of hope, promise and joy.
The people God has ransomed will come back on this road. They’ll sing as they make their way home . . . welcomed with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.
Reflect on the idea of repairing what we have rather than buying new. For an interesting perspective, read about why Patagonia ™ wanted its customers to stay away from its stores on Black Friday in the USA, a day dedicated to in-store and online shopping. Visit: http://www.patagonia.com/us/home OR http://www.techinsider.io/patagonias-well-worn-campaign-2015-11 OR http://fortune.com/2015/09/14/rose-marcario-patagonia/
For information on ancient Roman roads, visit: http://www.biblewalks.com/info/RomanRoads.html#Introduction
To visit an interesting blog, click on the desert flower image or go to: http://reverendmom.blogspot.com/2010/12/least-likely.html
Images from: http://www.shalominthewilderness.com/2014_07_01_archive.html and http://reverendmom.blogspot.com/2010/12/least-likely.html
The Noontimes 
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