“Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants” (Gospel Antiphon).
The two blind men in today’s Gospel are a model for all of us: they know their need, they know the One who can help them, they believe He will do so, and they call out for help. They are taken out of the crowd and into a quieter space, into the house, where Jesus can look at them as individuals and speak to them in private. Jesus does not haphazardly dispense healing into a crowd, but in a personal way, in a personal relationship of love and trust.
To understand what Jesus is doing in the Gospels, we try to see with whom He is establishing relationship. Where is His gaze? From whom is He eliciting a response? What is He drawing out of a person’s heart to create a space for healing grace?
This is what happens with the blind men. Their eyes were opened, but only because they knew they were closed, and they desired to see! Sometimes, we fail to see the areas of our own blindness, and so we do not even know to ask for healing. Sometimes, we do not fully believe we are worthy of healing, or we are afraid of what we will be without our woundedness, so we cannot truly desire the healing touch of God’s love.
These blind men not only believe Jesus can heal them, but recognize who He truly is – they call Him “Son of David,” acknowledging that He is the Messiah. And Jesus underscores and deepens their belief by asking them, “Do you believe that I can do this? … Let it be done for you according to your faith.” True healing always begins with faith and trust.
Jesus wants us to be whole and free, so that we can walk with confidence toward the Kingdom of Love and endless peace. Advent is an opportunity to ask for the grace to examine our hearts with sincerity, lift up our brokenness to the Light of His gaze, and take whatever steps we need to be wholly prepared to receive “the Son of David” as He comes to us with quiet grace at Christmas.
“Ya viene el Señor, nuestro Dios, con todo su poder para iluminar los ojos de sus hijos.” (Antífona del Evangelio).
Los dos ciegos del Evangelio de hoy son un modelo para todos nosotros: conocen su necesidad, conocen a Aquel que puede ayudarlos, creen que lo hará y piden ayuda. Los sacan de la multitud y los llevan a un espacio más tranquilo, a la casa, donde Jesús puede mirarlos individualmente y hablarles en privado. Jesús no imparte sanación a la multitud al azar, sino de forma personal, en una relación personal de amor y confianza.
Para comprender lo que Jesús hace en los Evangelios, tratamos de ver con quién establece una relación. ¿Dónde está su mirada? ¿De quién obtiene una respuesta? ¿Qué extrae del corazón de una persona para crear un espacio para la gracia sanadora?
Esto es lo que sucede con los ciegos. Sus ojos se abrieron, pero solo porque sabían que estaban cerrados y deseaban ver. A veces, no vemos las áreas de nuestra propia ceguera, y por eso ni siquiera sabemos pedir sanación. A veces, no creemos plenamente que seamos dignos de sanación, o tememos lo que seremos sin nuestras heridas, por lo que no podemos desear verdaderamente el toque sanador del amor de Dios.
Estos ciegos no solo creen que Jesús puede sanarlos, sino que reconocen quién es Él realmente: lo llaman “Hijo de David”, reconociendo que es el Mesías. Y Jesús subraya y profundiza su creencia al preguntarles: “¿Creen que puedo hacerlo?…Que se haga en ustedes conforme a su fe”. La verdadera sanación siempre comienza con la fe y la confianza.
Jesús quiere que seamos completos y libres, para que podamos caminar con confianza hacia el Reino del Amor y la paz eterna. El Adviento es una oportunidad para pedir la gracia de examinar nuestros corazones con sinceridad, elevar nuestra fragilidad a la Luz de su mirada y dar los pasos necesarios para estar completamente preparados para recibir al “Hijo de David” cuando venga a nosotros con su gracia silenciosa en la Navidad.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: falco, pixabay.com/photos/church-window-church-window-722386/
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