Isaiah — Chapter 35
Synopsis Capitis
Synopsis: Sudden reversal — the most lyrical and joyful chapter in First Isaiah. The desert blossoms like a rose (v.1-2), the glory of Lebanon and Carmel given to it; the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame leap, the dumb sing (v.5-6). Lapide reads the miracles of v.5-6 as explicitly Messianic — Christ cites Isaiah 35:5-6 in response to the Baptist's question (Mt 11:5: 'the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed'). The 'way of holiness' (v.8-10) = the Church as the royal road to heaven.
Verse 1
Laetabitur deserta et invia et exsultabit solitudo et florebit quasi lilium
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose — the Messianic transformation of barren land. Three levels: (1) the literal improvement of the land of Israel in the Maccabean and Herodian periods; (2) the spiritual flowering of the Gentile nations (formerly a spiritual desert, now blossoming with faith, charity, and virtue through the Gospel); (3) the eschatological renewal of creation in the new earth. 'The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it' = the cedars' majesty; 'the beauty of Carmel and Sharon' = fertility and beauty of Israel's most productive regions — all given to the Church.
Verse 3
Strengthen ye the feeble hands, and confirm the weak knees. Say to the fainthearted: Take courage, and fear not: behold your God will bring the revenge of recompense: God himself will come, and will save you. The encouragement to those afflicted and afraid = the Apostles and early Christians under persecution. 'Your God will come' = the central Advent promise: the God who seems absent is coming as Savior. Lapide: this verse was on the lips of every confessor in the persecutions.
Verse 5
Tunc aperientur oculi caecorum et aures surdorum patebunt
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped — the Messianic miracles. Christ cites this exactly (Mt 11:4-5) as proof of His Messianic identity to John's disciples. Lapide: these are simultaneously (1) the literal bodily miracles Christ performed; (2) the spiritual opening of minds to faith (formerly blind to the truth); (3) the eschatological healing of all bodily infirmities at the resurrection. 'Saltabit sicut cervus claudus' (the lame shall leap like a deer) = the joy and agility of the glorified body, freed from all infirmity.
Verse 8
Erit ibi semita et via, et via sancta vocabitur
There shall be a path and a way, and it shall be called the Holy Way. The 'via sancta' (holy way) = (1) the return route from Babylon to Jerusalem; (2) the way of Christ ('I am the Way,' Jn 14:6); (3) the Church as the royal highway to heaven; (4) the religious life as the more excellent way (1 Cor 12:31). 'The unclean shall not pass over it' = mortal sin excludes from this way; 'the fool shall not err therein' = those walking in simple faith with the Church cannot go astray, even if not intellectually sophisticated.