The Blind Shall See (Friday, Advent 1)

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Introduction

Jesus, our Messiah, who granted sight to the two blind men in the gospel can still do the same in our lives. We may have to identify our own “blindness” and seek His help even if it means crying aloud just as the blind men did. 


Reflection

In every set of readings most especially in this Advent season, we see the prophecies of Isaiah being fulfilled in the person of Jesus. In the first reading (cf. Isa. 29:17-24), Isaiah prophesies that on that day, the deaf shall hear and the blind shall see. In the gospel (cf. Matt. 9:27-31), Jesus grants sight to two blind men, thereby fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. 

I don’t know whether there is any medical procedure that can correct total blindness (I mean total blindness, not partial). If there is any, I have not heard about it. And so, when an eye problem degenerates to total blindness, the case is closed. What is needed in such a very critical situation is direct supernatural intervention. When some of these amazing stories of the miraculous healings of Jesus are told, a good number of us tend to have some reservations about them. One thing I have always told myself at the end of the day is that if God could create the world out of nothing, make a woman conceive without the intervention of a man, why should I think that He can’t grant sight to one who is totally blind? And if Jesus could grant sight to the totally blind men, why do I think that he can’t correct whatever form/type of “blindness” that I may be suffering from?

There is something said about Lebanon in today’s portion of Isaiah. It says: A little while, just a little while, Lebanon shall become a fruitful field. As at the time of this prophecy, a greater part (if not all part) of Lebanon was just thick forest. And that is why it was mostly known for its timber and other forest products. During that time, no person ever believed that Lebanon would become much more useful to the point of becoming a fruitful field. This goes further to confirm the belief that with God, all things are possible.

No matter what could be our own “blindness”, let us take it to Jesus! My “blindness” could be the inability to see and appreciate the goodness of God in the lives of others; it could be the inability to see even God’s goodness in my life and appreciate it; it could be the inability to see that something is sinful and avoid; and so on! After all is said and done, Jesus did open the eyes of the two blind men. The same Jesus has opened the “eyes” of countless men and women who were blinded in different ways by so many things. He can still do the same in my life, in your life and in our lives. Let us take it to Him in prayer and accompany our prayers with sincere efforts for healing. Don’t forget that the two blind men CRIED OUT and WENT to Jesus. They didn’t rest on their oars; they didn’t keep their arms folded, waiting for Jesus to come.        



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