Healing comes from faith

December 4, 2015

Friday of the First Week of Advent

Saints of the Day: Saint John Damascus, Syrian Monk and Priest (c. 675-749), Saint Barbara, Virgin and Martyr (3rd Century)

Reading 1

Isaiah 29:17-24

17Thus 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![1]

18On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. 19The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

20For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, 21those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim.

22Therefore 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.[2]

23When 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.

24Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1The 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.

4One 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.

13I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living.

14Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Behold, our Lord shall come with power; He will enlighten the eyes of His servants.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Matthew 9:27-31

27As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!”[3] 28When 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.

29Then He touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. 

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Notes on Readings:

[1] Isaiah 29:17-24 - The prophet presents God's plan of redemption in terms of unheard-of natural phenomena as if such changes in nature took place, that is the change of the cedars of Lebanon into an orchard (Isaiah 29:17)

[2] Isaiah 29:22 - Who redeemed Abraham: by freeing him from the idolatry of his native land.

[3] Matthew 9:27-31 - This story was probably composed by Matthew out of Mark's story of the healing of a blind man named Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). Mark places the event late in Jesus' ministry, just before His entrance into Jerusalem, and Matthew has followed his Marcan source at that point in his gospel also (see Matthew 20:29-34). In each of the Matthean stories the single blind man of Mark becomes two. The reason why Matthew would have given a double version of the Marcan story and placed the earlier one here may be that he wished to add a story of Jesus' curing the blind at this point in order to prepare for Jesus' answer to the emissaries of the Baptist (Matthew 11:4-6)in which Jesus, recounting His works, begins with His giving sight to the blind.

[4] Matthew 9:27 - Son of David: this messianic title is connected once with the healing power of Jesus in Mark (Mark 10:47-48) and Luke (Luke 18:38-39) but more frequently in Matthew (see also Matthew 12:23); 15:22 ; 20:30-31.