They are remarkable readings, today’s Eucharistic set.

The Psalm describes how “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.”

Isaiah looks forward to a time when “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes … everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

And at the end of the Gospel reading, after a fabulous tale of faith, friendship, forgiveness, feistiness and healing, those who have seen Jesus at work exclaim (to paraphrase), “Wow, that was awesome! Did you see that? Did you ever see anything like that?”

It is, after all, the season to look for, to wait upon, to expect miracles.

Psalm 85:8-13; Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26