Friday of Advent 1 – Is 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31

Why does a person not want to obey? Why does he think it would be better if he did the opposite, in his own way?

Jesus healed two blind people. He restored their sight.

The life of a blind person in Palestine at that time was extremely difficult. Such a person could not earn a living on his own except by begging. If he had a rich family, he may have lived at their mercy. And yet everyone wants to be independent, free, and able to decide about their own life.

Lack of sight and the resulting inability to work effectively made it impossible to earn a living. It didn’t allow them to fully enjoy life.

So, what a great gift they received from Jesus when the Lord restored their sight.

At the same time, He commanded them sternly that no one should find out about it.

Sternly, meaning with emphasis. So, it was important to Jesus.

And yet they didn’t listen. They probably didn’t understand this prohibition. It must have been hard for them not to share their happiness and the miracle they experienced.

I am not better than them at all. Like them, not understanding Jesus’ words, I ignore them and act in my own way.

Unfortunately, such behaviour only shows that I love myself more than Jesus., I am focused more on myself and on what I experience and feel, than on Him.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
whom should I dread?

There is one thing I ask of the LORD,
only this do I seek:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD,
to enquire at his temple.

I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong;
be stout-hearted, and wait for the LORD!