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Isaiah 35:4-7a 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;
I stand amazed at reading first the gospel text and seeing the miracles of Jesus, then a couple of days later, I come to the prophets and there see words of things to come, and realize, yes, Jesus is the Messiah, for He has fulfilled prophecy. This ancient prophet, listening and dreaming with God, heard words that he wrote down perhaps not having a clue as to what they meant and if he did, when they would come true. The prophet knew that God knew His audience and their need; who among us has not been fearful? Who among us has not needed to hear again and again, that God was with us and that we should be strong? Who has not needed to hear that there was salvation for us?
But then in both the spiritual and physical realms, there are those who are blind and deaf. Spiritually, there are those who have not yet seen nor heard about what God offers to all. Physically, our hearts ache for those who have no sight nor hearing. But here the prophet writes about the God who will open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf. Physically, many, many years later, Jesus does that very thing and that amazed many. Spiritually, every day, God continues to open eyes and unstop ears to hearts that become new and filled with God's grace. Spiritually, God continues to bring cool, refreshing water even in the midst of dry, parched lands and lives, and even the lame jump like dear and the tongues of many open in praise to God. Yes, the "burning sand" has become pools of water, and it is for our own good.
For what you have, give thanks. For what you need, ask. Pray that God would open all of our eyes and unstop all of our ears to His goodness and love. Then, because we have drank from the water of God's grace, share it with those still parched and thirsty.
PRAYER: Come, Living God, and quench our thirsts. Fill us with You as we empty ourselves of us. Help us to share with all, this we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
