By Paul Keim, professor of Bible and religion
Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10 (NRSV)
we are pilgrims on a journey and we seek the way called holy we traverse the barren desert and the desiccated prairies we are blind and deaf and crumpled and we have no words to speak of we are lost but there’s no turning and the jackal’s our coyote we need rescue there’s no question as we squint the dark horizon there’s a recompense to reckon and a force before us rising
we are pilgrims on a journey and we seek the way called holy and the landscape that was wasted is now bursting into blossom and the broken bits are healing and the barrenness is fertile and our hands and knees are agile and our hearts no longer daunted and the crocuses like kudzu and the insects even singing and the excess water pooling and the dragonflies exulting
we are pilgrims on a journey and we mount the hallowed highway no more sighing in our sorrow no more predators in waiting and those ripened for redemption make a beeline for the bounty and like magi to the manger there’s a star that we must follow and the ransomed are returning as the circle meets the tangent and the sanctuary waiting is the season of our advent
there’s a sanctuary hidden in the season of our advent
Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10 (NRSV)
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2it 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. 3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then 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; 7the 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. 8A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. 9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10And 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.