“And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” Isaiah 29:18
Today’s reading exemplifies why I love the book of the prophet Isaiah; orchards the size of forests, sight for the blind, tyranny eradicated, joy for the lowly, shame eliminated, and justice abounding. These verses, so typical of those from Isaiah during the season of Advent, provide a beautiful vision of a world made right, a world where the righteous need not be ashamed, a world where the deaf hear and the poor rejoice. It’s a hopeful vision of what the Messiah can do.
As much as I love the picture Isaiah paints, it’s easy to look around and see that the vision is not reality. The cost of living pushes more families into hardship, our political discourse grows ever more divisive, millions remain displaced from conflicts too easily forgotten, and the voices of those marginalized in our society still struggle to be heard. These facts make it hard to see Isaiah’s vision as remotely possible. It’s easy to feel hopeless and simply close our eyes to reality. It’s easy to wish for a messiah that can literally fix all of our problems.
Yet, that’s not how Jesus does things. He opens our eyes and in doing so opens our hearts. He walks with us fearlessly into the storm. He shows us that even in the midst of darkness there is love, light, and goodness. He promises that he will never leave us to face our fears alone.
This Advent, may we open our hearts to the promise of a true Messiah, one who changes things from the inside out. May we embrace a vision of hope, trusting fully in God’s promise of a world transformed by love.
Jesus, God with us, open our hearts to your love. Walk with us through this season as we place our hope in you.
Stephen Murphy
Thank you Stephen for your reflection!