Word to the Wise
Friday, December 4, 2020 - 1st Week of Advent - Fri
[Isa 29:17-24 and Matt 9:27-31]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 your faith." And their eyes were opened. [Matthew]
Miracles have a way of distracting attention from the concerns that underlie them! Our attention in this incident from the Gospel According to Matthew could be drawn to the recovery of physical sight for the two blind beggars. But the real point has to do with their faith. When they first call out to Jesus, they use a name of faith: "SON OF DAVID, have pity on us!" It is this faith that captures Jesus' attention. Then, as he does with the Canaanite woman elsewhere in Matthew [15:21-28], Jesus tests their faith by asking if they really believe that he can restore their sight. They reply with another title of faith, "Yes LORD." Jesus' then says, "Let it be done for you ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH."
In my pastoral experience, I have often heard people say to me, "I wish I had more faith." I ask them what "more" would mean? They often reply in terms of quantity of religious devotion and practices - more prayers, more rosaries, etc.. But faith is not a quantifiable commodity. It is a relationship that requires the best intentions and efforts to live as Jesus taught. The Sermon on the Mount is the best guide. In the case of the beggars, they were at the bottom and had ONLY their faith to work from. Jesus replied to them "according to their faith."
In this season of Advent/Christmas, we can ask ourselves about the strength of our faith. Is the nativity scene in our homes simply a minor nod in the direction of faith, dwarfed by everything else? If we are not starting from "ground zero" in faith, then what is our starting point and what do we expect from Jesus according to our faith? AMEN