Great Expectations

December 5 Friday the First Week

ISAIAH 29:17-24; MATTHEW 9:27-31

 Click here for the complete text of today’s readings.

Great Expectations

Advent is waiting. What are we waiting for?

For the Lord to “lead us out of gloom and darkness” and into fulfillment? Isaiah says he does it by “making the deaf hear the words of a book.” If we listen to God’s words at Mass and read them at home, God can make us hear what he is saying.

Those confused about spiritual things “shall acquire understanding.” Those who “find fault” with the Church or the world “shall receive instruction.” But only if we look with faith at what God is doing in both Church and world.

For the Lord to be “our light and our salvation,” we need to arouse faith in his light and hope in his salvation. Faith and hope open us to love.

We find all three in encounter with Jesus.

When two blind men asked him for sight, Jesus asked them in turn, “Do you believe I can do this?” Meeting him made them confront their faith – just as being physically at Mass makes us confront ours. When we are there, what are we listening for with faith? Looking for with hope? Waiting for with love?

If you seek you will find. 

If you ask you will receive. If you knock, Jesus will open his heart to you. You know this.

So what are you waiting for?

Pray (all day): 

“Lord be my light and my salvation!”

Practice: 

At Mass, listen. Look. Expect.