Word to the Wise
Friday, December 6, 2024 - 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...Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction...[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 your according to your faith." And their eyes were opened. [Matthew]
On two different occasions in different places, I have seen "human interest" stories on the local news about someone being given a special pair of glasses that would enable the wearer who was colorblind to actually see colors! One was a boy and the other an older man. Both recipients reacted by breaking down in tears of joy!! I think of these two people when I read the words from Isaiah and Matthew in today's scripture readings for Mass.
The Gospel According to Matthew was composed for a primarily Jewish-Christian community and consistently portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about a messianic "day of the Lord." Yesterday, a messianic banquet in Isaiah was paired with a miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes. Today, a messianic prophecy about the healing of the deaf and blind is paired with Jesus' healing of two blind men.
That is the "big picture," but I cannot let go of the joy that those new glasses brought to the colorblind boy and man. The faith of the two blind men moved Jesus to heal them. Can we do something in this season to bring a kind of messianic joy to someone? Can hope be brought to someone who is living without hope? Yes, this can be done by a wrapped gift or a donation of some kind, but it can also be done by "reaching out" and offering comfort accompanied by action in word and deed. Giving hope can mean giving joy. Giving color to those colorblind persons brought "joy to their world!" Can we find a way to do the same? AMEN