In Kitsap County, we are blessed with so much natural beauty, including views of two beautiful mountain ranges. When you look toward either the Olympics or the Cascades, what do you notice? More snow every day, great beauty and majesty, to be sure. And then, something else interesting: you see the closest mountains in the foreground, but there are also peaks beyond those, and peaks beyond those, and from your vantage point, it's impossible to tell the distance between the nearer and the farther peaks. Many prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures, including our passage this Sunday, are like this mountain range. The prophets told of historical events near in time to them, but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they also testified of events and fulfillments yet to come, some far in the future. Our passage this third Sunday in Advent, Isaiah 35:1-10, paints a glorious picture of transformation as God comes to rescue His people: a picture of the desolate wilderness blooming; bubbling springs and streams in the desert; the disabled healed; and a singing people celebrating as they walk together into a hopeful, joyful future. While Isaiah saw the "near mountains" of the Israelites' return from captivity and exile, what farther peaks was he also pointing to? He left us clues that we'll follow from ancient Israel into the gospels, into our own lives, and all the way to the end of history. I'm so looking forward to exploring with you Isaiah's beautiful picture of Advent transformation and joy, and what it means not only for our future hope, but for where we find ourselves right now, in this season.

June 8, 2025

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