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In the season of Advent, we find ourselves in both a "before" and "after" position! Along with Isaiah, we anticipate and hope for the coming of the Messiah. Along with the Christian community in Matthew, we strive to understand the Messiah who has come (and will come again) through re-reading the words of Isaiah and all the other writings of the Old Testament. In Matthew and the other three gospels we have the stories of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. But, if we are to understand Jesus as the "Messiah," we must look to the expectations (of which there are many different ones) expressed in the scriptures that preceded his coming.

Today's scriptures give us a good example. Isaiah speaks of the "day of the Lord" as one that reconciles opposites (remember the Peaceable Kingdom) and heals the deaf and blind and lame. The healing of the two blind men in today's gospel scripture would lend itself to a remembrance of Isaiah! Notice that they call out to him as "Son of David," a title that the Gospel of Matthew emphasizes in the genealogy that begins it. Then Jesus challenges them with the words, "Do you believe that I can do this?" When they respond affirmatively, their physical sight is restored, since they already can "see" Jesus in faith.

Two thousand years later we are still a part of the community of faith that strives to understand the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus through our continual celebration of the liturgical year and reading the scriptures. Advent focuses on the birth of the Messiah - his "first" coming. The noise and glitter of the secular cultural celebration of this season can blind and deafen us to its spiritual significance. If we are to get byond all of that secular cultural celebration, we may need to ask for Jesus' help. He will ask, "Do you believe that I can do this?" If we acknowledge him as "Son of David," we know what our answer must be. The result may be a Christmas celebration of sight and hearing that will be lasting! AMEN