Word to the Wise
Friday, December 6, 2019 - 1st Week of Advent - Fri
[Isa 29:17-24 and Matt 9:27-31]On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. [Isaiah] As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!" When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to our faith." And their eyes were opened. [Matthew]
Advent is the season of promise and fulfillment! Isaiah has been presenting the promise and the gospels have been showing the fulfillment. Yesterday we heard of healing and feeding. Today we hear again the wonderful promise of liberation of the deaf and blind, and Jesus' fulfillment in the healing of the two blind men.
In the past year, I have seen two "human interest" stories on the news about a boy and a grown man who were born with severe color-blindness. When each of them was handed a special pair of glasses, they saw colors for the first time. They both broke into tears of joy! This kind of joy can be hard to come by for some folks in this season of joy. Jesus' words, "Do you believe that I can do this?" are words that we can fulfill for those who feel there is no "hope" to rejoice in. Blessed, indeed, are those whose work has resulted in those special glasses to enable the colorblind to see colors! Blessed, indeed, can we be in reaching out to those whose Advent and Christmas season is weighted down by problems with health, employment, addictions, grief, immigration and poverty. Christ can be born in them and in us and we can make real those words of Jesus: "Do you believe that I can do this?" AMEN