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Advent Season · Third Sunday of Advent · Year A

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

The Desert Shall Blossom Abundantly

December 14, 2025

Almond Blossom, Vincent van Gogh
Almond Blossom, Vincent van Gogh, 1890Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Painted as a present for his newborn nephew, the branches cut off by the frame against flat blue, in the Japanese manner he had been studying.The desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly. Isaiah 35 is about things flowering where they should not.Vincent van GoghVan Gogh (1853-1890) trained first for the ministry and preached in a Belgian mining district before taking up painting, which he did seriously for only the last decade of his life.Van Gogh Museum, AmsterdamBuilt around the pictures Van Gogh's brother kept, and so the only place to follow his ten working years in order.Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 11:2-11Mt 11:2-11
Second ReadingJas. 5:7-10Jas 5:7-10
First ReadingIsa. 35:1-6a, 10Is 35:1-6a, 10
Responsorial PsalmPs. 146:6-7, 8-9a, 9b-10Ps 146:6-7, 8-9a, 9b-10

Overview & Insights

“The desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.” (Isaiah 35:1)

Chapter 35 closes the first half of the book and reads like a bridge to the chapters that follow: a highway through the desert, the glory of the Lord seen, the ransomed returning to Zion, all of which reappear at Isaiah 40:3-5 and 51:11. It is placed immediately after the oracle against Edom in chapter 34, so the blossoming wilderness here is the deliberate reverse of the thorns and wild creatures there, the same landscape read twice. The centre of the reading is a set of reversals in the body, eyes opened, ears unstopped, the lame leaping, the mute singing (vv. 5-6), which the Gospel of the day will place in Jesus’ own answer to the imprisoned Baptist (Matthew 11:5). Verse 10, the chapter’s last line, supplies the note that gives this Sunday its character: everlasting joy on the heads of the returning, with sorrow and sighing put to flight.

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Take it further: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

Commentary

The Third Sunday of Advent, Year A Catholic Productions

Brant Pitre's video walkthrough of the Sunday's readings including Isaiah's desert blossoming with joy.

Advent, Third Sunday, Year A Agape Bible Study

Verse-by-verse Catholic exegesis of the desert blooming and the ransomed returning to Zion.

Isaias, Chapter 35 Haydock Catholic Commentary

Douay-Rheims annotated notes on the wilderness rejoicing and God's coming vengeance and salvation.

Isaiah 35 - The Ransomed of the Lord Shall ReturnIs 35 - The Ransomed of the Lord Shall Return Enduring Word

Verse-by-verse commentary on the desert blooming as a sign of God's coming deliverance.

Isaiah 35:1 CommentariesIs 35:1 Commentaries Bible Hub

Compiled classic commentaries on the wilderness and dry land blossoming like a rose.

Background & Word Study

Isaiah 35:1 InterlinearIs 35:1 Interlinear Bible Hub

Hebrew text and parsing for the opening verse's promise that the wilderness shall be glad.

Isaias, Chapter 35 New Advent (Douay-Rheims)

Full Douay-Rheims text of the chapter for direct comparison with the lectionary's translation.

Isaiah 35Is 35 Sefaria

Hebrew-English parallel text of the same prophecy of the desert's future restoration.

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