1. 1. Isaiah 35:4-7 The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear. Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. 2. 4 Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; 6 Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. 7 The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water; The abode where jackals lurk will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.
3. 3. 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Thanks to cochlear implants, some people who were born deaf have gained the functional use of their ears. In Mark 7:31-37 Jesus heals a deaf man who also had a speech impediment. Medically, this is a triple miracle. First, theres the miracle of bringing about hearing without performing any medical procedure. Second, the mans mind could now hear the word of God so that it could process what his ears were hearing. Third, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.
4. 4. Clearly this reading from the book of Isaiah is a reading of hope and it also leads up to the miraculous escape from the Assyrians in chapters 36-39. The reading answers the question of how to give hope to people who feel weak and fearful. You explain to them that God is in control and we are pilgrims on a journey to a city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God (Heb. 11:10) The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water(v.7) When we cross the deserts of this world we seek the water of life, but like the woman at the well, we seek a thirst quenching drink that will remain forever, that drink can only be found in the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.