Bursting into Bloom
Scripture
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you” (Isaiah 35:1–4).
Reflection
A desert can be a desolate and dangerous place. You can lose your way, or even your life, if you don’t know how to maneuver the landscape with all its dangers. Water, so essential to life, is in scant supply there; dangerous creatures of every kind stalk, slither, and slink through its sands and rock.
Isaiah uses the desert as a metaphor for the barren wasteland that our spiritual world becomes apart from God. There, too, we can lose our way, because without him there is no compass, there is no path, and there is no rescue. Without him there is no hope; no way out of the morass of our world when it is separated from its creator.
God keeps his word; when he promises that he will come and rescue his people, he will indeed save. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of that promise. The Incarnation was the critical part of the Father’s plan to rescue not only the Jews, but all of his beloved creation. Fully God and fully man, Jesus carried the sins and suffering of the world, and did for us what we could never do for ourselves—atone for our sinfulness and reconcile us with the Father. In doing so he creates in us a holy people, set apart to continue his saving work until he comes again to usher in the final victory of God and goodness over Satan and evil—and take us to be with him in heaven forever.
God is acting with power in his world—through his Christ and through his holy people. It is already bursting into bloom, though we may not see it if we are not looking. Like that crocus bursting into bloom, it comes all of a sudden and surprises us by heralding the new life of springtime. So it is with God’s action among us. If we look we will see it the glory of the Lord giving hope and strength to his people in the most dire of circumstances. His glory shines when his people strengthen feeble hands with loving tenderness. It shines when the weak are strengthened by brothers and sisters who care. When people fear the worst, God’s glory gives the good news that he will triumph over evil; sin and death may have their day, but our God has come in our Christ to save us, and he will come again, just as he promised.
Be strong, fear not, your God has come, and will come again, he will trample evil, destroy death, and save his beloved people and, indeed, all creation. Then the Glory of the Lord will be seen by all peoples.
Prayer
Father, we live in a parched and arid spiritual world. All around us, people have forgotten your name and ignore your laws. Silver, gold, and power have again taken your place as the objects of devotion. Save us from evil around us and within us. Through your Spirit, help us strengthen each other with love and share our witness of your power alive in our lives. We ask this in the name of the One who came and is coming.
Activity
Reflect on the things that cause you fear or anxiety. Bring those things to the Lord in prayer. Be honest, speak to the Lord as you would speak to your brother, for that is who he is. Ask his help in overcoming your doubts and give him the burdens that you are carrying. This is what he has come to do—to carry our burdens and rescue us from all that threatens us.
Watching and Waiting For the Lion of Judah: Advent Day by Day
Rev. Richard Hasselbach