Friday, December 2, 2016

Friday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 29:17-24, Matthew 9:27-31)

The Feast of St. Cajetan is celebrated with grand fanfare in Argentina.  In a video message three years ago Pope Francis expressed his longing to be there on the occasion.  He also encouraged the people to assist the poor like St. Cajetan did.  He told them that when they give alms, they should not just toss the coin to the poor person but put the coin in the poor person’s hand.  In today’s gospel Jesus restores the sight of the blind with a similar physical touch.

In curing the blind men Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. The visionary speaks of the time when the tyrant will be overcome and the deprived will be made whole.  He probably has in mind the king of Assyria who was threatening the kingdom of Judah.  But the image can be universalized to mean all rulers who terrorize people.  The prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus who has conquered death to become the just sovereign of all.  Jesus also restores fullness to those with defects.  Very often in the gospels he works such wonders through physical contact.

We are now preparing for the truly awesome feast of Christmas.  If we do it well, we will take time to contemplate why God took on human flesh.  Was it not to show His love by becoming one of us?  Did he not wish to share the frustration we often have at home, at work, and even among friends?  More than feeling our pain, however, Jesus has come to relieve it as we hear today.  He is doing it for each of us as we lift a hand to help one another.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Friday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 29:17-24, Matthew 9:27-31)

Jesuit Fr. Mark Link once suggested a simple examination of conscience at the end of the day.  He said that we should pray, “Thank you, Father,” followed by naming a blessing that we have received during the day.  Then, we are to say, “I am sorry, Jesus,” now identifying a particular sin, perhaps of omission, that we have committed this day.  Finally, we to pray, “Holy Spirit, help me,” and include a challenge we face tomorrow.  When we pray in this way, we see our lives with wider perspective.  We begin to notice favors that we have taken for granted, faults that we have overlooked, and help when we think we are alone.

In the first reading, Isaiah looks toward the coming of the Messiah as a time when “the eyes of the blind shall see.”  This literally happens in the gospel when Jesus restores the sight of two blind men.  It also happens to us as we become more aware of our experience through prayers like the one Fr. Link proposed.  Invoking the Trinity, Link’s examination of conscience is eminently Christian.  Done with Advent awareness of the coming of Christ, it brings us to a powerful encounter with the Savior.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Friday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 29:17-24, Matthew 9:27-31)

In explaining why random evolution cannot account for the complexity of human life, intelligent design advocates often point to the eye.  They say that such an intricate organ is not likely to come about by chance, no matter if it had a zillion years to develop.  The eye’s sight is not only wonderful, it is of course imminently useful.  For this reason the blind men in today’s gospel ask Jesus for mercy.

The two men lack physical sight, but they possess something more valuable -- faith which is a deeper way of seeing.  The men may have heard that Jesus is of David’s lineage.  But this is nothing especially original.  More significantly, they believe that he is the son of David who will restore the glory of Israel.  As Isaiah foretold, he is the one who will open the ears of the deaf, the eyes of the blind, and the cells of prisoners.  Jesus rewards their faith with a better kind of twenty-twenty vision.  They can now see as well with their eyes as they have all along with their souls.

This Advent those of us who see well enough with our eyes might ask Jesus for the enhanced vision which faith gives.  We want to see him as the one to save us from all that threatens us.  Also, we need faith to never lose sight of everyone's dignity, no matter the person's disability or condition. 

Friday, December 3, 2010

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest

(Isaiah 29:17-24, Matthew 9:27-31)

In explaining why random evolution cannot account for the complexity of life, intelligent design advocates often reflect on the eye. They say that such an intricate organ is not likely to come about by chance, no matter if it had a zillion years to develop. Of course, seeing is not only wonderful, it is imminently useful. For this reason the blind men in today’s gospel seek Jesus’ mercy.

The two men lack physical sight, but they possess another, even more critical, way of seeing. They believe that Jesus is the son of David who will establish God’s definitive rule throughout the world. As Isaiah foretold, he is the one who will open the ears of the deaf, give sight to the blind, and bring release to prisoners. Jesus rewards their faith with a new kind of twenty-twenty vision: they can now see as well with their eyes as they have all along with their souls.

Today the Church remembers St. Francis Xavier, the tireless Jesuit missionary who preached faith in Jesus to thousands of people in Asia. Francis realized that God’s rule would not come about by wielding swords but by sacrificing self in charity.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Friday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 29:17-24, Matthew 9:27-31)

Fr. Mark Link, the Jesuit spiritual director, recommends a simple examination of conscience at the end of the day. He urges listeners to pray, “Thank you, Father,” followed by naming a blessing bestowed on the person that day. Then, they are to say, “I am sorry, Jesus,” now identifying a particular sin, perhaps of omission, that he or she committed that day. Finally, they are to pray, “Holy spirit, help me,” and include a challenge that is to be faced tomorrow. When we do this, we begin to notice things that we often overlook.

In the first reading, Isaiah looks toward the coming of the Messiah as a time when “the eyes of the blind shall see.” This literally happens in the gospel when Jesus restores the sight of two blind men. It also happens to us as we become more aware of the world around us through prayers like the one Fr. Link proposes. Invoking the Trinity, Link’s examination of conscience is deeply Christian. Done with Advent awareness of the coming of Christ, it ushers us to a personal encounter with Jesus the Savior.

Homilette for Friday, December 7, 2007

Friday, The Memorial of St. Ambrose

(Isaiah 29:17-24, Matthew 9:27-31)

In explaining why they think random evolution is an adequate theory for explaining the complexity of life, intelligent design advocates often point to an eye. They say that such an intricate organ is not likely to come about by chance no matter if it had a zillion years to develop. The eye’s sight is not only wonderful, it is also useful. For this reason the blind men of the gospel passage are obviously asking Jesus to allow them to see when they cry for pity.

The two men lack physical sight, but they possess faith which is another way of seeing. The men may have heard that Jesus is in the line of David, which is only a fact of heredity. More significantly, they believe that he is the son of David whom God has chosen to restore His people to the glory that Isaiah predicts in the first reading. He is the one who will open the ears of the deaf, restore sight to the blind, and bring release to prisoners. Jesus rewards the men’s faith in him with a super twenty-twenty vision. They see as well with their eyes as with their souls.

This Advent those of us who see well enough with our eyes might, like the blind men, beg Jesus for increased sight of faith. We want to look to him as the one who will save us from all that threatens us. Also, we need faith so that we might never be blind to the inviolable dignity of every human being. We do not want anger or prejudice that rises in us at times against individuals and groups to ruin our respect for them.