Friday of the First Week in Advent
(Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31)
The daily readings for Advent are not picked arbitrarily. The first reading, always from the Old
Testament, speaks of the future. It
tells of what to expect on the “day of the Lord” when God acts definitively on
behalf of His people. Then the gospel shows
Jesus fulfilling the prophecy, often in subtle but nevertheless palpable ways.
Today’s readings are no exception to this principle. The prophet Isaiah tells of the deaf who will
hear and the blind who will see. He is
not referring to the physically impaired as to the spiritually deaf who refuse
to hear God’s word as mediated through the prophets. He also refers to the spiritually blind who
cannot see that the future is won by faith, not by political maneuvering. Jesus cures the two blind men as a sign that
their faith in him, and not pleasure or power, brings fulfillment in life and
death.
Faith in the synoptic gospels includes hope. It is trust that the Lord will provide what
we lack to achieve the goal we deep down desire. Hope refuses to give up the struggle just
because the odds of triumph are miniscule.
It knows that the Almighty God can and will make all things turn out well
for those who trust in Him.
