Advent is always about “seeing.” We want to look back in retrospect and see more clearly how and why Jesus came among us at Bethlehem. We also want to see more clearly how He is coming into our lives at each moment of each day. We also hope that we will see Him with great clarity when He comes again.
When we read the Biblical accounts of the healing of people, especially the blind, there is always more there than meets the eye! Such accounts of the miracles are never just about the restoration … and in the case of the blind, the restoration of physical sight. Those healed have gained “in-sight.” They can really see: they can see who Jesus really is: the Word of God, the Love of God. Often, they respond by sharing their experience with everyone else. It is not something that they can keep to themselves! Do we respond in like manner when the Lord works His wonders in our lives? Do we proclaim it everywhere?
This Advent day is a day for us to be aware of our own blindness. How many of us can claim that we can see Jesus as He really is? How often do we have difficulty really seeing and accepting the Word of God? If we are to celebrate Christmas properly, we must learn how to listen to God’s Word and learn how to see deeply into the meaning of His life as it is presented to us. How many of us are ready to “see” the Son of the Most-High God as a baby born in a stable?
Let us pray. “Have compassion on us, Son of David! Open our eyes to the wonders of your love and help us prepare your way. Make us eager and ready to welcome you at Christmas, but also to welcome you each day this season, and again when you come in glory. Amen.”
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Advent Bonus: Today is the feastday of St. Francis Xavier. He was a close friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola and among the “founding Jesuits.” He was a missionary, primarily in India and Japan. He realized that giving up of everything of selfish gain would free him to bear the Good News of Jesus to the world. His example still teaches us that “sacrifice” is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good: the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, or the good of just listening to another. St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.
