Restore Us, O God

A Reflection on the ​First Reading for Sunday, September 8th, 2024:
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Isaiah
35.4-7

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.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

The passage from Isaiah describes the glorious future that God has prepared for His faithful remnant. It is a vision of the new creation, where God will transform the desert into a beautiful land, where the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, and the mute will sing. It is a vision of the Kingdom of God, where justice and peace will reign, where sorrow and sighing will flee away, and where God will wipe away every tear from every eye. Close your eyes and picture that. Maybe even meditate on that image. For myself, when life gets hard, I call this passage to mind and reflect on the peace it recalls.

The passage begins with an exhortation of courage and confidence: "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.'" These words are addressed to those who are oppressed and afflicted. They are words of comfort and assurance that God has not forgotten. They are words of hope and anticipation that God will fulfill His promises and establish His reign of love and mercy.

I invite you to reflect on your own situation and respond to God's promise of restoration. We can ask ourselves the following questions:

• Do we trust in God's faithfulness and goodness, even when we face trials and difficulties in our lives?
• Do we look forward to God's coming with eagerness and joy or with fear and dread?
• Do we cooperate with God's grace and allow Him to heal and transform us, or do we resist and reject His offer of salvation?
• Do we share God's vision of the new creation and work for His kingdom, or do we settle for the status quo and conform to the world?

I hope this inspires you to trust in God's power and love, to look forward to His coming with joy, to cooperate with His grace and transformation, and to be His instruments of hope and consolation to others.




Shelly Fillmore

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