15 December 2013 - the early rains

15 December 2013 - the early rains

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
being patient with it
until it receives the early and the late rains.

We are called to be patient waiting for the LORD.  We find ourselves in the desert waiting for the rains.  Some of the rains come later than we would like.  But some come early.  They turn the desert even now to a place that can sustain life.

The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.

This is why the Church commands us to rejoice even in this season of preparation and watchfulness. Even in the desert there are the early rains of the kingdom in our midst.
 

“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

Jesus makes it clear to John the Baptist and his followers that these are the signs Isaiah tells us to watch for. Therefore, to the question of where Jesus is the one to come can be answered by Isaiah as well.

Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.

Hearts in that age and ours have good reason to be frightened. But let us look to the signs of the Kingdom. Let us see our God coming to save us that we may not be conquered by fear. The God who comes to us is the one who makes flowers bloom in the desert of this world.  Indeed worldly insufficiency only serves to emphasis the supernatural abundance that follows in his wake.  The joy we feel to see these flowers bloom is just a prelude to the joy in which we hope to partake one day.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.


The kingdom of heaven changes everything.  Nothing that comes before it can compare.  John cries out in the desert but in the kingdom the desert gives way to green pastures and still waters.  It is not only the world around us, the circumstances, which change.  It is not even mainly these.  The king of this kingdom can even change the deserts of our hearts into places of rejoicing.  He comes to save us.

The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.