Sunday, December 1, 2013

12/6/2013 – Friday of 1st Sunday in Advent – Isaiah 29:17-24 , Matthew 9:27-31

     This first week of Advent, we’ve been hearing a continuous set of readings from the Old Testament, from that great Advent prophet Isaiah. Isaiah has a vision of what life will be like when God triumphs.   At that time – the deaf will be able to hear the beautiful words that are being read out of a book and the blind who had been in darkness will now be able to see.  At that time, the lowly and the poor shall rejoice in the Lord, while the arrogant and the tyrannical will be banished.  Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah.  In the Gospel, two blind men regain their sight after asking Jesus to have pity on them.  Jesus heals them as a result of their belief in him, as a result of their faith.  The men not only regain their sight, but more importantly, they see through the lens of faith as they spread the word of Jesus throughout the land.  We are to see through that same lens of faith, to witness to the wonders of Jesus throughout the land.  
      Today, we also celebrate St Nicholas.  He is a very popular saint that we celebrate during the Advent season, a saint who is honored both in the Eastern and Western Churches.  Nicholas was a Bishop in Turkey during the 4th Century.A legend was passed down about Bishop Nicholas having given three bags of gold to a poor man who needed to provide for dowries for his three daughters.  This legend has influenced that way we give gifts at Christmas time.  There is another legend about how Nicholas punched the heretic Arius in the face during the Council of Nicea.  It is funny how we humans can create a legend out of the facts. Our Advent journey is a rich one indeed, full of different stories, traditions, and legends.  May our Advent journey and the examples of faith we have to lead us and guide us help us in preparing for the coming of the Lord. 

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