Isaiah 35 excerpts
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and shouting.
Strengthen the weak hands
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
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.
“The soul of the one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing.” – St. John of the Cross
Reflection
Today we invite you to pause with wonder and see the joy around you. Read through the excerpts from Isaiah 35 slowly two to three times. Then through the words of St. John of the Cross. What would it look like for you to “swim in joy”? Take a few minutes and let joy spontaneously flow in praise through prayer with God or in another form that you choose (singing, movement, journaling etc…)