Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (St. Luke)
Note to readers: This is an alternate reading from the Three Year Lectionary, and may not match up with the readings your church uses this Sunday.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. (Isaiah 35:5-8)
The prophet Isaiah is describing what it will be like for God’s people on the day He brings them home from exile. They will rejoice and be happy. No disabilities will stop them from coming home. Even in the desert they will find abundant water, more than enough for everybody. And best of all, there will be a highway for them to travel on, so they can’t possibly get lost. It will carry them safely, all the way home.
Isaiah is talking about more than just the physical return of God’s people to their own land. He’s talking about us. Because we, too, have been in exile—far away from our Father’s kingdom, living among strangers who care nothing for Jesus or for love, mercy, and forgiveness. We know we don’t belong in this world, ruled by the cruel and greedy, who oppress others and take whatever they want without shame. How we long to be home!
But it’s a long trip, and we are weak. We know that we are so often blind and deaf to God’s voice. We have trouble walking in His ways. And how will we even find those ways? What will keep us going till we reach home?
Jesus will. Jesus is the One who says to us, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6b). When we walk on His highway home to God, we will never get lost. Jesus will guide us every step. And He will do more than that—He will heal us of our spiritual blindness and deafness, and give us the ability to follow Him gladly. He will provide us with what we need to eat and drink along the way—His own body and blood for our food and drink. And He will go on doing this, gladly, till we make it home to His arms.
Why would Jesus do such a thing for us? You know the answer. He loves us! He was born into this world for no other reason but to rescue us and bring us home to God. He lay down His life on the cross to destroy the powers of evil and to bring us home to God as His own forgiven children, with hearts made new. And He rose from the dead to become the Source of everlasting life for all of us—the living water that will keep us alive even through the dryest deserts.
Jesus is our Way, and He is bringing us safely home. Praise God!
WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You for sending Your Son as our Savior. Keep us safely on His Way forever. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions: