First reading Isaiah 29:17-24
In a very short time, the deaf will hear and the eyes of the blind will see
The Lord says this:
In a short time, a very short time,
shall not Lebanon become fertile land
and fertile land turn into forest?
The deaf, that day,
will hear the words of a book
and, after shadow and darkness,
the eyes of the blind will see.
But the lowly will rejoice in the Lord even more
and the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel;
for tyrants shall be no more, and scoffers vanish,
and all be destroyed who are disposed to do evil:
those who gossip to incriminate others,
those who try at the gate to trip the arbitrator
and get the upright man’s case dismissed for groundless reasons.
Therefore the Lord speaks,
the God of the House of Jacob,
Abraham’s redeemer:
No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale,
for he shall see what my hands have done in his midst,
he shall hold my name holy.
They will hallow the Holy One of Jacob,
stand in awe of the God of Israel.
Erring spirits will learn wisdom
and murmurers accept instruction.
Responsorial Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14
The Lord is my light and my help.
The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?
There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple.
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!
Gospel Matthew 9:27-31
‘Take care that no-one learns about this’
As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up with him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’ But when they had gone, they talked about him all over the countryside.
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The impulse to proclaim
In today’s gospel, Jesus healed two blind men, and as a result, they regained their sight. Imagine their immense joy and amazement at the incredible blessing of being able to see! Despite Jesus’ command for silence, these two men eagerly went out and shared with everyone that He had done for them. Their joy and gratitude drove them to share their genuine encounter with Jesus.
In our personal journey of faith, we have experienced moments when Jesus gave us a new vision to see life from a different and broader perspective. This opens our hearts to live with more hope and greater joy. As we celebrate the Advent season, let us not remain silent. Instead, let us eagerly share the extraordinary ways in which God has touched our lives and the lives of those around us. This is a time of joyful anticipation, a moment to reflect on the profound impact of His grace in our daily experiences. Each story we share not only deepens our own faith but also inspires others to recognise the presence of God in their lives.
Reflective question:
Today, who are the people with whom I can share my faith?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
