Sunday, December 23, 2018
by Emmie Berberick
Isaiah 35:1-10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it 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. 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. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then 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; the 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. A 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. No 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. And 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.
My entire life I have always had the greatest sense of excitement in the preparation of my cousins
coming to town. It never mattered to me that it meant I had to participate in dreaded chores in order to
help my mother prepare the home for their arrival or that it meant we had to get in the mindset of
having very little alone time. I was always excited for the preparations because once we were prepared
it meant I could bask in all the joy that was to come upon their arrival.
The season of Advent is too a joyous time of preparation. While it is so easy to get wrapped up in the
festivities that the holiday season brings, it is also important to remember what the season is about. The
arrival of our savior is a time to celebrate, a time to sing, a time to remember. As you go throughout your
day in preparation for all the excitement the season has to offer, remember to also give thanks for the
Prince of Peace is coming to set us free.