Friday of the First Week of Advent (C)

Today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on the faith of the two blind men who cried out to Jesus, “Son of David, have pity on us!” They were physically blind, yet their hearts saw clearly who Jesus was—the Messiah, the source of healing and salvation.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t heal them right away. He asks, “Do you believe I can do this?” Their response, “Yes, Lord,” reveals the depth of their faith. It was not their persistence alone but their trust in Jesus’ power that brought their healing.

We, too, often struggle with our forms of blindness—not of the eyes but of the heart. Fear, doubt, selfishness, and pride can cloud our vision, preventing us from seeing God’s presence. Like the blind men, we must dare to cry out, “Lord, have mercy on us!” and trust in His power to heal and transform us.

Isaiah’s prophecy in the first reading speaks of a time when the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the poor will rejoice. Jesus fulfills this promise through physical miracles, by opening our spiritual eyes to see God’s love, and by guiding us to walk in His ways.

Let us pray today: “Lord, open our eyes. Heal our blindness, and help us see the path you have set before us. Strengthen our faith so we may witness and share your love with others.”