Isaiah was a poet. The 1st reading shows it. Poets have a way of exasperating unimaginative, realistic readers, but Isaiah’s poetic description of the messianic times fits in well with Matthew’s Gospel for today. For Isaiah, the coming of the Messiah will change gloom and darkness into joy and light.
Matthew describes Jesus giving sight to two blind men.
Significant: they asked him to do so while they were together on the road and he put them off until he reached his lodgings. Here we see the idealistic versus the realistic. What is the lesson for us? Advent is the time when we learn to express our hopes and learn patiently for the Lord to act. Perseverance makes both faith and hope stronger, more realistic.
In questioning the two Jesus seems to want them to express their faith. They do so, positively. But after he cured them, he asked them not to publicize the event. Curious. They don’t do what he asked. Against prior evidence, it seems their faith was not really as strong as they thought. Where here is the lesson for me? Does my faith need to be strengthened? Do I ever ask the Lord to strengthen it?
Resolve. Today is the First Friday of the month, the day devoted to the Sacred Heart, who continues to fulfill the mission his Father gave him, namely, to show mercy and compassion to all. I shall ask him, in preparation of Christmas, to deepen my knowledge of this mission for myself and for all for whom I pray, so that together we may put it into better practice during the Advent season.