Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 85:8-13
Luke 5:17-26
The early Desert Fathers and Mothers were known to draw apart from the rigours of everyday life to follow Jesus’ example of poverty and listen for the voice of God wherever they made their simple dwelling places across the desert. Waiting on encounter with Jesus was probably not always joyous. Indeed, I imagine they might have struggled with the poverty of the way of life they chose. Yet they knew their patience would be rewarded by the breaking forth of springs of water and flowering, verdant pastures as they sought to make a simple home for Jesus in themselves.
We too are exhorted to draw aside from time to time to places of physical and spiritual refreshment, simply just to be or listen. I am reminded here of the words of our English poet John Milton (1649 – 1660), “He/she also serves who stands and waits.”
Milton used his late state of blindness to convey, through his poetry, the message of patience and hope to those in the midst of adversity. We have the Desert Fathers as earlier examples of waiting in patience and hope for Jesus during hard times.
– Janice Barnes
