Isaiah 35

The Return of the Redeemed to Zion

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;

the desert shall rejoice and blossom;

like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly

and rejoice with joy and shouting.

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,

the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

They shall see the glory of the LORD,

the majesty of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands

and make firm the feeble knees.

4 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.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;

6 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;

7 the burning sand shall become a pool

and the thirsty ground springs of water;

the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp;

the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 A highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Holy Way;

the unclean shall not travel on it,

but it shall be for God’s people;

no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.

9 No lion shall be there,

nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;

they shall not be found there,

but the redeemed shall walk there.

10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Matthew 11

2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Luke 7

22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight; the lame walk; those with a skin disease are cleansed; the deaf hear; the dead are raised; the poor have good news brought to them. 23And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

A Litany of Joy for Advent

Leader: The desert blooms; the crocus pushes through the frost.

People: Still, the world turns the same, and our hearts grow weary.

Leader: The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap.

People: Go find John — tell him what you see.

Leader: Streams will flow in the wilderness, a highway opens through the dry land.

People: None are left behind; all find healing and rest along the way.

Leader: Joy rises where sorrow lingered, and the weak are made strong.

People: Go find John — the promise is here.

Leader: The ransomed shall return with singing; everlasting joy crowns their heads.

People: Emmanuel comes — the story is not yet done.