Isaiah 41: 13-26; Psalm 145: 1 and 9, 10-11,12-13; Mt 11: 11-15

in the flourishing of earth
we will see Him
redeemer
the one who says
“fear not
I will help you”
the waters will flow
and the desert
will flower
we will see
and understand
that Elijah has come
no longer subject
to the violence of men
we live
under the power of love
and faithfulness
we know
our true God
through his Son
and the Holy Spirit
and remain
in his goodness
and compassion
to all

Do you hear the prophets?
How do you know your true God?
Do you experience the abundance of God’s love and mercy?

Isaiah 40: 25-31; Psalm 103: 1-4, 8 and 10; Mt 11: 28-30

laboring
we are burdened
having lost
sight
of our God
we are weak
and fainting
leading lives
of destruction
until we hear
His voice
“Come to me”
and we enter
His rest
and learn
from Him
we lift our eyes
and see our Creator
our strength renewed
in our hope
in Him
His kindness
and compassion
beyond
our imagining
we soar

Have you grown weary and burdened in your labor?
Where do you find rest?
Does your hope in God give you strength?

Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 98:1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12; Luke 1:26-38

an angel
a messenger
a grace
appears
with an invitation
to leave
fear
and accept
new Life
within
a life
a pure heart
can see
answering yes
from a deep place
of knowing
that in God’s pure Light
and Love
we are saved

Do you say “yes” to God’s invitation?

Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85:0-14; Luke 5:17-26

looking into our hearts
He sees our fear
and doubt
and enters
the place of
our faith
that seeks
God’s presence
in a moment
of encounter
we awaken
to the healing power
of God’s love
we see
we hear
and rise up
rejoicing
becoming
who we were meant to be
in God’s love
saying to hearts
that are frightened
fear not
be strong
our God is here

Does He speak to your fear and doubt?
Do you experience His healing Presence?

Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11; Ps 85: 9-14; 2Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1: 1-8

He shows
generous patience
in His time
a thousand years
as one day
while the way
is prepared
for a new heaven
and a new earth
that will be shown
by the one
who sees
as God sees
through love

kindness and truth
shall meet
justice and peace
shall kiss
and comfort
shall come
to a people
baptized in the Holy Spirit
knowing their salvation
as Truth springs
from the earth
no more shall we withdraw
from this new life given
but embrace it
with all of our mind
our heart
and our soul

How do you wait for his coming?
Do you see as God sees through love?

Isaiah 30: 19-26; Psalm 147: 1-6; Matthew 9:35-10:1-8

no longer
will our teacher
hide himself
hearing us
when we cry out
we will see him
and a voice
from behind
will sound
in our ear
“This is the way
walk in it”
healing our broken heart
binding our wounds
we are sustained
and follow
to labor
in God’s field
cleansing
curing
raising the dead
and bringing new life

Do you hear his voice?
Where do you see him?
How do you follow?

Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 17: 1,4,13-14; Mt 9:27-31

he asks
if we believe
in His power
to heal
our blindness-
with the “yes”
of our faith
our eyes
are opened
and we dwell
with Him
who rejoices
in the Holy Spirit
we enter
a different realm
far from
the chaos
of worldly powers
and enter
the soul’s
eternal peace

Do you believe in His power to heal?

Isaiah 26: 1-6; Psalm 118: 1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27; Mt 7: 21, 24-27

we listen
we act
as we hear
His words
of justice
which are
God’s love of All
we open the gates
of our hearts
to let in
God’s peace
we trust
in God’s goodness
and mercy
and give thanks
for our savior has come
we build our house
on this foundation
where no storm
can prevail

Is your heart open to His word?
Do you build your life on His foundation?
Who do you trust?
Where do you go in the storm?

Isaiah 25: 6-10; Psalm 23: 1-6; Matthew 15: 29-37

we dream of
a banquet
before us
our Spirit
restored
we see
the love of the God
and feel God’s saving power
there is nothing more
we shall want
as goodness
and kindness
pursue us
and feed us
the blind see
the lame walk
the deaf hear
death is destroyed
every tear
wiped away
we rejoice
and praise
as we put our hope
in Him

How do you experience God’s love?
How do you experience God’s saving power?
How do you rejoice?

Readings Isaiah 11: 1-10; Psalm 7: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Luke 10: 21-24

spirit resting
upon us
a child
to guide us
we see
we hear
what prophets
longed for
his love for all
a justice
that flourishes
into a time
of peace
spirit of wisdom
and understanding
spirit of counsel
and strength
we are in awe
as wolf and lamb
lion and calf
lie together
and no ruin comes
the cries
of the poor
are heard
as a shoot sprouts
from the stump of Jesse
a bud
a blossom
we rejoice!

Do you see?
Do you hear?
Do you rejoice?