Isaiah 35:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The spirit of the waters will transform into a lake, and the parched land will become a source of springs. Christ proclaimed, ‘Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst (John 4:14).’ Why does He refer to it as ‘a fountain of waters’? This aligns with the sanctity of believers and diminishes the influence of desires. The birds will rejoice, alongside the reeds and the lusi. There, the pathway will be pure, and it shall be designated as holy. When will this be? After baptism, after the illumination, because we possess nothing on our own; it is solely through God’s grace that we have been endowed with everything. Where the king's feet tread, how could the path be anything but pure and sacred? Where such a spring emerges, how can the streams fail to nourish the souls that thirst?

But the crippled shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute shall be clear. Those who once walked unsteadily and faced mental challenges will be transformed into the likeness of deer, becoming swift and strong in spirit; they will also conquer serpents and speak rightly of divine matters, no longer referring to idols with phrases like, "You are my father" or "You have begotten me" (Jeremiah 2:27). It is essential to understand that Christ manifested these wonders in His physical presence, astounding Judea with miraculous signs from above. For the water shall run dry in the wilderness, and the parched land shall see a spring arise.

In the abode of the jackals, where they find their solitude, reeds, grass, and chinchilla will flourish. These unusual flora in the arid desert symbolize the righteous claims of humanity, following the comfort brought by the arrival of the Messiah, leading to an abundance of various virtues among humankind. The Lord reassures the Jewish people through His prophet that, following the downfall of the Assyrians and Babylonians, their land will experience tranquility, adorned with a plethora of vegetation, alongside plentiful streams of water and bountiful harvests.

From this, you can discern how the Scriptures anticipated the plight of those who were unaware of God, specifically the Gentiles, who, despite having sight, failed to see, and having hearts, did not comprehend. They worshipped material idols, yet it was foretold that they would abandon such falsehoods and place their faith in Christ. This Christ, the source of living water from God, emerged from among the Gentiles. He walked among your people, bringing healing to those who were, from birth, blind, deaf, and lame. By His command, one who was crippled leaped, another who was deaf heard, and another who was blind saw. He also resurrected the dead and restored them to life. Through His miraculous acts, He awakened the awareness of His contemporaries regarding His true identity.

The Lord offers a promise to the Holy Church through another prophet, stating: There shall be space for reeds and bulrushes. I recall saying previously that the reed symbolizes the authors, while the bulrush represents the listeners. However, as both the reed and bulrush thrive in the moisture of water and originate from the same source, only the reed is utilized for writing, as the bulrush cannot serve that purpose. What can we understand about the reed and bulrush except that one signifies the doctrine of truth, which sustains many listeners?

The presence of moisture in a barren desert environment nurtures the existence of flora and fauna. In areas abundant with water, birds find comfort, building their nests and joyfully singing among the tree branches that line the shores of lakes and the springs of water, where lush reeds flourish rather than dry, withered ones. This imagery reflects the Church emerging from paganism, which suffocated spiritual vitality much like the harsh desert sun extinguishes life. In contrast, Christianity invigorates and nourishes spiritual existence, fully addressing the deepest longings of the human spirit, and becomes a source of spiritual joy, evident in the joyous melodies that rise in praise to God.