All of creation lives with infirmities, uncertainties, and fears. Even the desert sands look for water. It was a situation in which the Israelites were caught. Their despair was heavier than hope.
By 650 B.C. the Assyrian Empire, whose capital was Nineveh, stretched from the Persian Gulf in the east through the fertile crescent into Palestine and beyond. Judah paid tribute to Assyria during the reign of Manasseh, even though it was technically a free zone.
It was around that time Isaiah’s poem prophesies were proclaimed. Isaiah focussed on the reversal of earth’s barrenness to fruitfulness, giving encouragement to the fearful; a reversal from infirmity to health, from wilderness and dessert to water; and a secure, holy highway whereby the redeemed can come back to Zion.
The promise was, the Spirit of God will make the earth fruitful again. Therefore rejoice. The joy of the elements of creation reflects the joy of God’s people at the arrival of God’s salvation.
Physical and spiritual salvation are merged in terms of an earth free from fear, injustice, sickness, and death. The chapters that follow Isaiah 35 show this is more than assertion. History began to reverse itself when God, in miraculous fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies, supernaturally judged Assyria at Jerusalem’s gate and saved the faithful remnant within it.
It was a reversal of the judgment: A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; it shall be for God’s people; no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray. Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, who will save you.” They 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.
God’s Holy Way is a sure refuge proclaimed not only by the prophets, but also by John the Baptizer, and Jesus Christ. Their comforting words answer those still looking for evidence of healing and hope. We can reassure ourselves with the knowledge that our Savior is coming. On that day, justice will be restored. Therefore, we must rejoice.
The joy we note today, on the third Sunday of Advent is the sure hope of God’s restoration, the assurance of the Saviour’s return. However, the joy is not without pain. How can one rejoice amid pain and suffering? The psalmist sang: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. James in his epistle states: As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
When hope is in God, there is always the possibility to be joyful. John the Baptiser proclaimed joy over Christ coming after him. He was preparing the way in the wilderness for Christ. He was trying to make the crooked straight and prepare the Holy Way of God.
As part of his calling people to repent, he did not spare the ruler of the day, for which he had to pay the price. Matthew 14:3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. That was because, John told Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have Herodias as your wife after killing your brother Philip.” John the Baptiser’s call disturbed Herod.
Similar messages are heard in many parts of the world today in many ways. One of them is, a Nativity display outside St. Susanna Catholic Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts. That has caused a stir. In that display in front of the church, the shepherds, sheep, and wise men were all there, but Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus were gone!
And in the place where they should have been, a dramatic sign with bold letters replaced the holy family with the words, “ICE WAS HERE.” The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which is engaged in deporting many immigrants.
The prophetic message of St Susanna Catholic parish is symbolically proclaimed through the nativity display without Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. It is a direct message to the authorities to say what you are doing is not what Christmas means. People of that church opted to celebrate the birth of Christ with a prophetic message amidst the pain of deportation of people who came for better life.
John the Baptiser’s joy of proclaiming the Holy Way of God was compromised by his call to the dark power of the day. I presume it will not be so with St Susanna Catholic Parish. Nonetheless, John the Baptiser’s hope and joy were alive even in prison. He sent his disciples from prison to inquire from Jesus whether he was the one to come or the people must wait for another one.
Instead of a one-word answer of ‘yes,’ Jesus pointed to the Holy Way of God that restored life, which brought joy to the people who were weak, lame, blind, deaf and those who lost their life. They were restored. Joy flows through the Holy Way of God.
What is our take today with a call to repent and to be joyful? The words that gives hope is, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, who will save you.” Therefore, be joyful. Be joyful in the assurance of deliverance that comes out of the Holy Way of God.