Friday of the First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 29:17-24;
Matthew 9:27-31)
Today’s gospel, as most during Advent, ostensibly fulfills
the prophecy in the first reading. Jesus
makes “the eyes of the blind…see.” The
world has likewise experienced steady progress in the elimination of
blindness. One expert has said that if
it were not for diabetes, blindness might be extinct today.
But physical blindness is not the only concern of the
prophet. He is taken up with spiritual
blindness as well. He rails against the
arrogant whose faces are puffed up with conceit. These people fail to see how their lifestyles
hinder the development of a just world.
Pope Francis analyzes how this blindness comes about in his encyclical “Fratelli
Tutti.” He says that communication
technology has allowed people to become more selective in the news they
receive. They in turn become more convinced of biased arguments and form factions
to secure privileges for themselves.
Our hope for a just world is everlasting because Jesus, the
eternal king, is its basis. During this
season of Advent, we hope to see tables turned, at least a little. We long to see a more equitable distribution
of wealth where everyone has basic needs met.
We want the poor to prosper spiritually as well as economically. We hope that our lives too may prioritize a
concern for others rather than a preoccupation with self.
