The Desert in Bloom
December 14, 2025
Opening Thought
This Sunday, looking around the nave, you will notice a distinct shift. The serene blue of Advent is interrupted by a flash of rose. We light the pink candle on the wreath. We call this "Gaudete Sunday," taking its name from the Latin introit meaning "Rejoice."
But "rejoice" can be a complicated command. If we are honest, sometimes it feels like a heavy lift when life itself feels heavy. I know that I am carrying some profound burdens right now, as I’m sure many of you are. Life does not stop being difficult just because the calendar says Advent.
However, when I feel the weight of these burdens, I try to look at them through the lens of our faith. I am reminded that whatever I am carrying does not outweigh what John the Baptist endured, sitting in a dark prison cell wondering if his life’s work was in vain. It does not outweigh the perilous, exhausting struggle Mary and Joseph faced just to get to the manger. And it certainly does not outweigh the suffering our Lord would ultimately endure on the cross for our sake.
And yet, despite all of this, the command remains: Rejoice. Why? Because the joy brought to us through the message of Gabriel—that "nothing will be impossible with God"—and the ultimate joy of the birth of Christ, supersedes our struggle. We rejoice not because our lives are easy, but because the News is so good. The Savior is near, and His presence changes everything.
Engaging the Word
Isaiah (35:1-10) offers one of the most beautiful visions in all of scripture. He speaks to a people in exile, surrounded by wilderness, and promises a transformation so radical it seems absurd. "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad... it shall blossom abundantly." But it’s not just the landscape that changes; it’s the people. "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped." This is a promise of total restoration—physical, spiritual, and ecological.
In Matthew (11:2-11), Jesus uses Isaiah’s vision to answer John’s doubt. When John asks if Jesus is really the Messiah, Jesus doesn’t give a theological lecture. He points to the evidence: "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed." In other words, look around! The "desert" Isaiah promised is starting to bloom right here, right now. The Messiah is not just a future hope; He is a present reality breaking into the brokenness of the world.
James (5:7-10) gives us the posture we need to see this bloom. He uses the metaphor of a farmer waiting for the precious crop. A farmer doesn't wait passively; there is an active, attentive patience in watching the sky for the "early and the late rains." We are called to "strengthen our hearts" in this waiting, knowing that the coming of the Lord is near.
Finally, Psalm 146 acts as the anchor. It is a hymn of praise to the God who "keeps faith forever," who "sets the prisoners free," and "opens the eyes of the blind." It confirms that the works Jesus is doing are the signature of Yahweh Himself.
A Journey in Song: Our Musical Guides
Our music today bridges the gap between the ancient promises of Isaiah and the present joy of the Church.
Opening Voluntary: We begin with a gentle, lyrical Aria on "Bristol" by Malcolm Archer. The tune "Bristol" is intimately associated with the Advent hymn "Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes." The lyrics of that hymn (which will be in our minds as we listen) speak of the Savior coming to "release the prisoners" and "make the blind to see." Archer's setting is peaceful and flowing, setting a tone of gentle assurance.
Entrance Hymn: "Come, thou long-expected Jesus" (#66) is the quintessential hymn of Advent longing. We sing of Christ as the "strength and consolation" of Israel and the "joy of every longing heart." It perfectly captures the tension of James's "waiting farmer."Sequence Hymn: "O heavenly Word, eternal Light" (#64) connects us to the cosmic scope of Christ's coming. We ask him to "lighten our hearts" and "burn up with fire our traces of sin," preparing us to hear the Gospel.
Anthem: The choir brings the joy of Gaudete Sunday to life with "Arise, Shine" by George Elvey. This Victorian anthem is unabashedly triumphant. The text, drawing on themes from Isaiah, commands us to "Arise, shine, for thy light is come!" It is a musical burst of light, contrasting the "gross darkness" of the world with the risen glory of the Lord.
Presentation Hymn: We continue our weekly journey through "O come, O come, Emmanuel" (#56), this week singing verse 5: "O Key of David, come." This verse asks Christ to "make safe the way that leads on high," echoing Isaiah's promise of a "Holy Way" upon which the redeemed shall walk.
Communion Hymn: "Word of God, come down on earth" (#633) brings the incarnation down to a personal level. We ask the "Word" to enter our specific lives—our thinking, our willing, and our loving—so that we might be living signs of his presence.
Post-Communion Hymn: "Prepare the way, O Zion" (#65). We send ourselves out with this joyous Swedish folk melody, celebrating that "Christ is coming" and urging us to meet him with palm branches and open hearts.
Closing Voluntary: We conclude with the Fantasia on Veni Emmanuel by Alec Rowley. This piece takes the somber, chant-like melody of our Presentation Hymn and infuses it with energy, drama, and excitement, propelling us out into the world with the news that Emmanuel is indeed coming.
A Closing Note on our Journey
Gaudete Sunday reminds us that joy is not the absence of struggle; it is the presence of God within the struggle. John the Baptist found his answer while sitting in a physical cell, but we often inhabit cells of our own making.
Our thoughts and fears can so often become a dark, cold prison where we see no light and no way out. We trap ourselves in anxiety, convinced we are isolated and forgotten. But today, the rose candle flickers with a different truth. Christ is that light. Christ is that open door. He has already unlocked the bars. The joy of this Sunday is the realization that we are not trapped. The way to freedom is standing right in front of us. All we have to do is trust Him enough to get up and walk through it.
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Let us pray for the grace to rejoice in the Lord always.
For the Church, that we may witness to the world that the blind see, the lame walk, and the poor have good news brought to them,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who wait in the "prisons" of doubt, fear, or suffering, that they may receive the assurance of your presence and power,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For patience in our hearts, that like the farmer waiting for the precious crop, we may trust in the timing of your grace,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the deserts of our world—places of war, poverty, and despair—that they may blossom with the waters of your justice and peace,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
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