Peasant Mother
D.A. Siqueiros, Peasant Mother, Imaging the Word, An Arts and Lectionary Resource Volume 2
Joy Shall Come
Joy shall come even to the wilderness,
And the parched land shall then know great gladness;
As the rose, as the rose shall deserts blossom,
Deserts like a garden blossom.
For the living springs shall give cool water,
In the desert streams shall flow,
For living springs shall give cool water,
In the desert streams shall flow.
Hebrew Traditional
Joy shall come even to the wilderness,
And the parched land shall then know great gladness;
As the rose, as the rose shall deserts blossom,
Deserts like a garden blossom.
For the living springs shall give cool water,
In the desert streams shall flow,
For living springs shall give cool water,
In the desert streams shall flow.
Hebrew Traditional
Imaging the Word, An Arts and Lectionary Resource Volume 2
Spiritual Practices: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
(Isaiah 35:5-7)
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
(Isaiah 35:5-7)
Living Out the Text: Facing anxiety in community
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a little more than 30% of people in the United States will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder). On top of that, many people will struggle with anxiety that may not rise to the level of a disorder. We are anxious about the future, about money, about world events. We worry about our children or family members. We worry about what others think about us. Anxiety is something we all struggle with to some extent.
Consider what Isaiah says in verses 3-4:
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
He says that we should strengthen weak hands, make firm feeble knees, and encourage those who are anxious. Our national inclination when we are anxious, worried, or troubled is to withdraw from others; to isolate ourselves with our anxiety. Unfortunately, this is not a healthy approach to take. When we engage with others, they have the opportunity to strengthen our hands, make firm our knees, and encourage us. When we are with those who are anxious or worried, we have the opportunity to do the same to them. Most of the time we find that what we need when we are struggling does not come when we are isolated, but comes through community.
Isaiah goes on to say that we should be strong and not fear. We know that God makes all things right; we know that he will come and save. We don’t have to worry, we don’t have to be anxious, we don’t have to fear. We can get in community, we can get supported, and we can remember that God will ultimately make all things right.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a little more than 30% of people in the United States will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder). On top of that, many people will struggle with anxiety that may not rise to the level of a disorder. We are anxious about the future, about money, about world events. We worry about our children or family members. We worry about what others think about us. Anxiety is something we all struggle with to some extent.
Consider what Isaiah says in verses 3-4:
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
He says that we should strengthen weak hands, make firm feeble knees, and encourage those who are anxious. Our national inclination when we are anxious, worried, or troubled is to withdraw from others; to isolate ourselves with our anxiety. Unfortunately, this is not a healthy approach to take. When we engage with others, they have the opportunity to strengthen our hands, make firm our knees, and encourage us. When we are with those who are anxious or worried, we have the opportunity to do the same to them. Most of the time we find that what we need when we are struggling does not come when we are isolated, but comes through community.
Isaiah goes on to say that we should be strong and not fear. We know that God makes all things right; we know that he will come and save. We don’t have to worry, we don’t have to be anxious, we don’t have to fear. We can get in community, we can get supported, and we can remember that God will ultimately make all things right.