The daily Word of God
Friday, December 6th, 2024
Friday in the 1st Week of Advent. Saint Nicholas, bishop
Matthew 9:27-31 "Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?"
First Reading: Is 29:17– 24
Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
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.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27:1, 4, 13–14
R./ The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R./ The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R./ The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R./ The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:27-31
As Jesus moved on from Capernaum, two blind men followed him, shouting, "Son of David, help us!" When he was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?" They answered, "Yes, sir!"
Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "As you have believed, so let it be." And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, "Be careful and let no one know about this." But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about him through the whole area.
Steps toward clearer vision
Jesus gives sight to two blind men who cry out in faith, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Their healing is a powerful Advent reminder of God’s promise to restore not just physical sight but moral clarity and spiritual understanding. Advent is a season of hope, inviting us to long for a world of justice, equity, and redemption where the reign of God is fully realised.
Isaiah predicts a future free from oppression, deceit, and injustice, where honesty and truth prevail. This vision pushes us to scrutinize the moral blindness of our era—the violation of human rights, the arrogance in enforcing secular values, and the shortcomings of judicial systems that often prioritize power over integrity. Pope Francis consistently highlights these injustices, encouraging Christians to serve as witnesses of compassion and catalysts forchange in a divided world. He reminds us that faith without action remains unfulfilled.
The healing of the blind men illustrates God’s mercy towards those who sincerely seek Him. It also highlights our spiritual blindness—our difficulty in clearly perceiving the path of righteousness amidst worldly distractions. However, as Isaiah and John point out, missteps are a part of our journey. What is truly important is having a heart receptive to conversionand a desire to change and grow.
Advent invites us to embrace positive actions that lead to greater clarity. Every act of justice, kindness, and reconciliation draws us nearer to the Kingdom of God. Like the blind men, let us call out in faith, trusting in God’s power to heal our sight. May we serve as vessels of His light, showcasing the magnificent presence of God in a world longing for redemption.
Introduction
In this season of hope, Advent, the word of God gives us a vision of hope. The mighty who rely on their own political power and alliances will be crushed, but the poor, the deaf, the blind, that is, those who still believe in God's presence and action in the world, will see salvation. So promises Isaiah in the name of God.
When we celebrate the eucharist, we profess our faith that God, in fact, begins the fulfillment of this promise in Jesus. He restores the eyesight of the blind because they believe. God has committed himself to the world through Jesus Christ.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you are our light and our help;
notwithstanding our limitations
and all our ambiguities,
we place all our hope in you.
We know that we are weak,
yet that our weakness can be constructive.
We realize that sin is not dead in us,
yet that sinners can serve you.
We are mortal, yet we can live with death
as a dimension of life,
but not as a final obstacle.
God, help us to live with these realities
in faith and hope,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
General Intercessions
Let us ask the Lord that we may be always people of joy and hope who live in the love of God.
- That we may learn to see beyond the evils of our time the signs of goodness and mercy, we pray:
- That we may be people who can admire and appreciate whatever is good and beautiful and true, we pray:
- That we may be people who see the needs of others, even unspoken and hidden, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, God in whom we trust,
in this bread and wine
we celebrate the memory of your Son.
He has shown us in his own life
that obstacles to life and love
cannot be overcome without suffering.
Through him, keep us hoping in you
and in your future for people and our world,
and reassure us that you prepare for us
a table and a feast of joy
that will last for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
in the shadows and struggles of life,
let the body and blood of your Son
be to us a glimpse of light
that you are present in our world
and that you do not despair of people.
Help us to grow
in the new humanity of your Son,
that we may dare all and hope all
and commit ourselves to each other and to you,
who are our God for ever.
Blessing
That God may open our eyes to look at ourselves and this world with eyes of faith. Then there will be little that is dark in life. May the Lord touch the eyes of our hearts and bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the HolySpirit.
