Faith and healing ~ reflex on Advent and Matt. 9:27-31

“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 believed Jesus could heal them, but recognized 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.