The Healing of Two Blind Men

Today's Reflections

                                                                                   

 

The Healing of Two Blind Men

Mt 9:27-31

²⁷As Jesus passed [by], two blind men followed [him], crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” ²⁸When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. ²⁹Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” ³⁰And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” ³¹But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

Let it be done for you according to your faith. Matthew relates this unique story of Jesus passing by and healing—not one, but—two blind men. Biblicists say that Matthew’s story is a redaction of the healing of Bartimaeus (cf Mk 10:46-52).

Whatever it was that made Matthew “double” the character of the blind, this could be an occasion to think of Advent and Christmas as a feast of lights. We light up the season with Christmas lights and lanterns of every sort. These should point to Jesus, our true light (cf Jn 8:12).

Jesus comes to defeat not one or two but many forms of darkness and blindness. Aside from physical blindness, there is moral blindness (from sinfulness and obstinacy), there is intellectual blindness (from ignorance), there is spiritual blindness (from a materialistic and consumeristic lifestyle), there is emotional blindness (from depression and unforgiveness), and there is social blindness (from injustice and insensitiveness towards the needy).

What are you doing

to make this season a “celebration of light”?

Make a list of persons whom you wish Jesus

to touch with his gift of light.