Hear And See

“Thus says the Lord GOD: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest!  On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone…” (Isaiah 29:17-24).

Isaiah continues to speak about the poor, the lowly, and tyrants.  It seems logical considering what was happening during his life and the lives of the Gospel writers who had his words to help them describe Jesus and what he meant to the poor, outcasts, dispossessed, and Roman-dominated Jewish population.  In fact, today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:27-31) is quite direct: “…Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘Let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And their eyes were opened…”

Isaiah’s passage reflects hope for better times: the orchard will become a forest; the deaf shall hear; the blind will see; and the poor will rejoice.  Simple questions for all of us are: “Are we deaf and blind?  Do we see the poor in front and around us?  Do we help the lowly find joy and rejoice?  Do we reject the tyrants and arrogant or fall behind them?”

Advent is a time for soul-searching.  We spread the word of him [Jesus the Christ] through our words and deeds.  Do we transform orchards into forests?   We do so when we sow seeds of faith by what we say and by our actions.

Deacon David Pierce