6 December 2019 - Friday Friday of 1st week in Advent – Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31- feast day of St Nicholas

     This first week of Advent, in our first readings, we hear from different chapters from the prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah is a great Advent prophet whose message prepares us for the coming of the Lord.  We often hear from Isaiah during Advent because his message is so relevant to this time of the year.  Today, we hear of Isaiah’s 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 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. In our faith, we see Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies.  

      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 called in our own life of discipleship to see through that same lens of faith, to witness to the wonders of Jesus throughout the land.  

      Today, we also celebrate St Nicholas, a great Advent saint.  Nicholas is honored in both the Eastern and Western Churches.  He was a Bishop in Turkey during the 4th Century. A legend is 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 and has connected Nicholas to the figure of Santa Claus and to the season of Advent and Christmas.  There is another legend about how Nicholas punched the heretic Arius in the face during the Council of Nicea as they were arguing issues about theology.  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.