The Catholic Calendar for Friday, December 2, 2005
Friday of the First Week of Advent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 29:17-24
Psalm 27:1,4, 13-14
Matthew 9:27-31

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"According to your faith, let it be done to you." (Matthew 9:28)

Today's Gospel suggests that Jesus' miracle of restoring sight to two blind men was the means to His achieving a greater end. He shows us the necessity of faith; for, however weak, it serves to activate God's grace in any situation. The truth of this is seen when Jesus speaks of towns where His message was rejected; unbelief prevented their receiving His miracles, since God can only enter and work in receptive hearts like those of children.

From the outset the blind men appeared to have faith when they identified Jesus as "the son of David," their expected Messiah. Yet, despite their recognition, Jesus delayed healing them, allowed them to follow Him, persistently asking for His merciful healing.

At times God delays taking action to test if our "faith" springs merely from gaining our will or if it comes from a sincere desire for God to enter into our lives to effect changes for our greater good. An untested faith is a fraud; true faith prompts persistence in prayer, whereas the faithless see delay as reason to abandon prayer and continue in their unbelief. Jesus then pointedly asks the men if they believe He can perform this miracle; their affirmative answer opened their hearts to receive God's gift of a new life through eyes that truly saw Him.

Within the context of Advent, we see this period of waiting as one of anticipation, a time of strengthening our faith in the coming of Christ into this world to gift us with His saving power. We tap into His power by praying for our faith to grow as we, by grace, accept each day's events and relationships as His perfect will for us, see all things as His means of drawing us closer to Himself so that He may imbue us with His divine goodness., His love and truth.

O Merciful and powerful God,
we ask you to remove from the eyes of our hearts
all that may hinder our receiving with perfect faith
all that You may will in our lives.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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