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The Holy Highway
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December 6, 2021The Holy Highway
Advent began this year on November 30th. It’s a special and spiritual preparation time for the “coming of Jesus”. The four Sundays leading up to the birth of Jesus are recognized for these four virtues: hope, love, peace and joy. We light candles around the Advent wreath representing these virtues each Sunday as a symbol of our beliefs. We may light the candles, but some of the beliefs may be lacking.
Many around us may be experiencing a truly difficult time finding a way to embrace these virtues no matter what Christmas decorations and celebrations surround us. Reminders of the aftermath of our pandemic and the continuation of threats of infection, violence around the world and political unrest make it challenging to stay contemplative to that which truly brings peace. Gifts under the Christmas tree can’t mend broken hearts and souls who are feeling hopeless, fearful and a bit lost on their life journey.
I was struck by a reading from Isaiah 35: 7-9 at Mass today. Rarely does the Old Testament resonate with me so strongly. So many verses hit me hard with such profound meaning and a call to personally reflect and share with others.
Joy of the Redeemed
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10 and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
I believe that this reading was intended to give me direction for my life, this season and in this time. I recall how much I prayed fervently when my daughter was learning to drive on the highway just a year ago this week. At times I felt paralyzed with fear as she would proceed to the on ramp with cars speeding around us. She needed to accelerate and remain calm and confident. It was a really stressful time. My prayers for her safety was the only way I survived it. I had no control and I felt parched in my own desert. I sometimes experienced a real physical reaction to the fear of the “what ifs”. My rosary and accompanying petitions to our Mother accompanied me on every trip!
The holy highway that Isaiah speaks of is one that leads us out of the desert of despair and fear where there might not be relief in sight. He is with us. Emmanuel will not leave us in the desert. Our deep desire for holiness and abiding trust in His redemption and protection is in direct relationship to the priority we place on our prayer life and a relationship with Him. Eventually, the “desert will bloom with abundant flowers and rejoice with joyful song.” The holy highway back to heaven is real—embrace the dryness when it’s there but feel joy and hope that your thirst will be quenched and it’s not forever.
