Today’s Scripture Readings

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this.’ But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

Advent is a season to come as we are. Like the blind men in today’s Gospel, we are invited just as we are: imperfect, uncertain and sometimes stumbling along the way. They could not see, yet they followed. They could not yet grasp the fullness of what lay ahead, but they trusted enough to take the next step.

This is our invitation this Advent: to come, to follow Christ, even when the path is unclear or difficult, to bring our faith, no matter how small, and let it draw us closer to him. Jesus asks the blind men the same question he asks each of us: “Do you believe?”

It is a question that goes straight to the heart. It is not merely about believing in the mind but about surrendering with the whole heart: Do I believe that Jesus can bring light into my darkness, healing into my brokenness, and hope into my waiting?

The blind men respond simply, “Yes, Lord.” Their faith opened their eyes, and so can ours.
As I hear this Gospel, I find myself praying, “Lord, open my eyes too. Open my eyes to your presence in the quiet moments of this season. Open my eyes to the ways you are working even when I cannot see clearly. Open my eyes to see you in the faces of those I encounter, in the poor, the lonely, the grieving.”

This Advent, may we echo the faith of these two men. May we come to Jesus with all that we are, trusting in his mercy, believing in his power to heal and to save.