Desert-ed Highway

In his poetic prophesy, Isaiah envisions for all people of faith a desert place in which they will one day live. That may not sound all that great – but wait!  This desert is not dry and barren as we’d expect; rather it’s alive and in bloom, lush with new life and new possibilities in the promise of God’s coming to dwell with God’s people… forever. This is a divine move that will bring great reversals – as all human weaknesses and frailties and sufferings will cease; the earth itself will be replenished and waters will flow with ease. In this desert, human life will flourish, free from fear of every kind. In this desert, Isaiah envisions for us a joyful life filled with the sound of everlasting singing in God’s presence with us.

Here again is a vision that sounds great but can be so hard to see.  We sigh and wonder: will we ever get there? Will we ever have the joy of knowing this vision as a reality?  On this third “Joy” Sunday of Advent, let’s consider this desert and the path we are called to take to get to it. Let’s also remember the dusty road that Mary travelled to visit her cousin Elizabeth whose baby John leaped for joy in her womb at the very thought of the birth of the Messiah. After all, it is his arriving from which all true joy is derived.