Friday, December 6, 2024

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.

Friday, December 2, 2022

 Friday of the Frist Week of Advent

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

Blind people often play on their ability to see.  They will likely tell you when they understand something you are trying to explain, “I see, I see.”  The two blind men in today’s gospel are making a comparable point.

The blind men already see when they recognize Jesus as their “Lord.”  They know that he has power over the darkness of sin and its consequences.  Jesus’ bestowing physical sight confirms this more critical spiritual insight that the men have made.  By giving them physical sight, Jesus also fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading, “…the eyes of the blind shall see.”

During Advent we want to see the Lord more clearly.  We already know him teacher and savior.  We hope to trust more completely in his friendship.  Confident of his love for us, we can live more happily and caringly, at peace with all.

Friday, December 4, 2020

 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.

Friday, December 6, 2019

Friday of the First Week of Advent

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

No book of the Old Testament anticipates the coming of the Lord as much as that of the prophet Isaiah.  The first half of the work is attributed to the original eighth century seer.  He gives startling images to raise the people’s hopes.  When the Assyrian army seems headed toward Jerusalem like a category five hurricane, Isaiah could tell the people not to lose faith.  He says that God will care for them if they trust in Him.

In today’s reading Isaiah tells of the great works that God’s faithful will see.  He says that on the day of the Lord marvelous things will take place.  A whole country will become like a fruitful orchard.  The deaf will begin to hear and the blind, to see.  In the gospel Matthew tells of how Jesus fulfills the prophecy.  He gives sight to two blind men who put their faith in him.

We limit ourselves unnecessarily if our expectations of Advent are only end–of-the-year parties.  It is time to anticipate receiving from Christ a new vision.  During this season we can expect to see the earth not as a warehouse to be plundered but as an orchard to be cultivated.  We hope to see every person as well not as a rival but as a sister or a brother.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church

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

Saint Ambrose was not raised a Catholic.  His father was a Roman patrician who afforded Ambrose a classical education.  Ambrose became a government official and served as governor of the Roman province around Milan. While there, he decided to join the Christian catechumenate.  In this way he completed his intellectual formation from the perspective of faith in Jesus Christ.  It might be said that he was seeking a new way of seeing reality.  No longer would people be objects with only utilitarian value.  As a Christian, he would see them as images of the Creator worthy of respect and love.  Ambrose’s new way of seeing parallels the new sight Jesus gives to the two blind men in today’s gospel.  These cures are significant because they fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy in the first reading.

Isaiah prophesizes that in the fullness of time blind persons would no longer live in darkness.  Jesus again provides this blessing.  But his cures of blindness do not stop there as if seeing sunrays were the epitome of human desire.  More importantly, Jesus confirms the faith of the blind men in him as Lord.  This gift moves them beyond the challenges of life to the road to eternal happiness.

Like Ambrose we believe in order to see.  That is, we accept the truths of faith so that we can have a rightful understanding of the world.  We need not fear that faith conflicts with science as secularists say.  The two -- faith and science -- cover different realms of being and are compatible.  Belief even aids research as it provides scientists with increased motivation.  Faith-filled scientists do their research not just to make a living and to develop knowledge but for a higher purpose.  They fulfill the human task of praising the Creator by discovering the wonder of His work.

Friday, December 6, 2013

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Nicholas, bishop

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

One way to corroborate the affirmative answer in the classic editorial “Is there a Santa Claus?” is to refer to St. Nicholas whose feast is celebrated today.  St. Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop legendary for his generosity.  His name was transformed over the centuries to its rendering in Dutch, Santa Claus.  However, the Scripture readings today hint of a better way to think of Santa.

In the first reading Isaiah tells of the day that the blind shall see the work of God in their midst. It will be a time of complete justice when the good will be rewarded and the evil duly punished.  The gospel indicates the fulfilment of the prophecy in Jesus who restores sight to two blind men.  The Lord Jesus may be considered the original referent for Santa Claus.  He brings people what they most deeply want -- light to find their way to salvation.

One of the “O” antiphons sung at the end of Advent recognizes Jesus as the “Morning Star.”  That star is, of course, the rising sun which provides clear light for people to live.  Jesus enlightens our way not just to thrive in daily affairs but to blossom fully in eternity. 

Friday, December 7, 2012

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church

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

Saint Ambrose was not raised a Catholic. Rather his father belonged to the governing class of Roman citizenry which afforded Ambrose a classical education. Ambrose joined the catechumenate in Milan where he was provincial governor. He chose to look from the perspective of faith which brought his intellectual formation to completion. The gospel today portrays Jesus as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of enabling sight in the root sense of the word.

Isaiah prophesizes that in the fullness of time blind persons like Helen Keller would be able to see flowers and butterflies. Jesus is able to provide that kind of blessing. But his cure does not stop there as if seeing beautiful things were all that humans desire. More importantly, Jesus confirms the faith of the blind men in him as Lord. This gift sees them past all the challenges on life on the road to salvation.

We believe in order to see. That is, we accept the truths of faith so that we can have a rightful understanding of the world. We need not fear that faith conflicts with science. They cover different realms and are compatible. Belief even aids research as it insures that investigation will serve humanity.

Friday, December 2, 2011

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 day’s end. He advises listeners to pray, “Thank you, Father,” and name a blessing bestowed that day. Then they are to say, “I am sorry, Jesus,” and identify a particular sin or shortcoming experienced. Finally, they are to petition, “Holy Spirit, help me,” and include a challenge that will be faced tomorrow. Performing this simple exercise, Christians will realize the promise of Isaiah in the first reading.

Isaiah looks toward the coming of the Messiah as a time when “the eyes of the blind shall see.” This prophecy is literally fulfilled in the gospel when Jesus restores the sight of two blind men. He comes as well to give his followers sight or, maybe better, insight. They are to recognize his hand in providing the light of the sun and the water of the earth. They are to see his face in the poor and needy.

Absorbed in ourselves, we are blind to the goodness that abounds around us. Hearing Jesus’ gospel call, we recognize egotism as a significant cause of our inability to see. Eradicating it with concentrated effort and prayer, we experience the Lord in our midst which is the goal of Advent.

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 5, 2008

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 also useful. For this reason the blind men in today’s gospel ask Jesus for mercy.

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. But this is only a fact of heredity. 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, give sight to the blind, and bring release to prisoners. Jesus rewards their faith with a new kind of twenty-twenty vision; that is, 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 so that we might never lose sight of everyone's dignity, no matter the person's disability or condition.