December 2nd

December 2, 2022
Friday of the 1 st Week of Advent
Readings: Is 29:17-24/Mt 9:27-31 (179)
Elena Jimenez: Junior

In the first reading for today, the Israelites are asked to be aware of their
own deafness and blindness. Many times, the Israelites have been led astray, which
is like us in many ways. Sometimes we struggle to hear the Word of God in our
lives or see Jesus clearly. However, there is good news of God’s plan of
redemption when it says, “for the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have
gone”. The evil and corrupters of justice will come to an end”, as said by the
Prophet Isaiah. Their vision will not be clouded anymore by the darkness, and they
will see the light of God. On that day, the deaf will hear, and the blind will see.
Moreover, we must be like the two blind men in the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus was passing by when the two blind men approached him and begged for
mercy. Even though the two men were blind, they had faith in Jesus when he
asked, “Do you believe that I can do this?” They both said yes. Both men were
healed by Jesus because of their faith, and they spread the Word around Galilee. A
question I have for us to meditate on today is, Do I have the faith of those blind
men? Their faith was so strong that it helped heal their blindness. There may be
times and places where we find ourselves spiritually blind. We may be lost or
questioning our faith during trying times in our lives. However, Jesus is
encouraging us today not lose faith because Jesus has mercy on us sinners and on
everyone who calls on him. As we prepare for Christmas, we must become aware
of our own weakness, in fact, our own blindness or deafiness. The question you
need to ask yourself today is, am I blind or deaf to the Word of God and to the
presence of God in my life? If so, do not lose heart because in the first reading by
the prophet Isaiah it says, “those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and
those who find fault shall receive instruction.” We will learn how to see Jesus in
our lives clearly and we will begin to hear and understand the Word of God.