Daily Revelation – 12/8/2023
Sacred Scripture
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed [him], crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” When 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. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. (Matthew 9:27-31)
Reflection
There is more in today’s Gospel than meets the eye!
What we have is not just the restoration of the blind men’s physical sight. But he also gained insight. He saw who Jesus was – the Word of God alive. That was a pivotal moment in his life. It was something that he couldn’t keep to himself. Jesus restored his sight — both physically and spiritually to the reality of his kingdom.
Most of us don’t have a moment like that. We learn our faith as we grow into it. We spend most of our life trying to live his word. Because that is what we are called to do.
Faith is a gift freely given to us by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of His love.
When we doubt our faith, when we cry out and it seems as if he is not listening, when life seems to blind us, when a tragedy overwhelms us, the strength of our faith is tested. Some move on. Others are left behind, living with doubts about their faith. Living in the shadow of their faith.
If you find yourself in that position, I want to help you move on to a life that is made even brighter by His gift of faith. Throughout my life, there were many obstacles and some tragedies that needed to be overcome. The only way I could move on was simply to push through them. Even when their sheer size dictated that I might not be able to do it.
Am I a wonder man? Of course not. But this I how I pushed through.
I knew I could not do it alone. I knew that the challenge confronting me was bigger than I was. So, I held on to two beliefs that powered me through. I knew I needed Jesus. I did not ask for a miracle, I simply asked for His strength to fill me. Knowing that propelled me.
The second was a discussion I had with myself. It went like this: “Self, this may not be what you wanted or where you wanted to be but accept this. Wherever it winds up, Jesus will be with you.
Strength from Christ. Love from Christ.
We know that evil does not come from Him. Tragedy does not come from Him. Desperation and loneliness do not come from Him.
We also know that God wants us to change and transform our lives; to set us free to live as his sons and daughters and citizens of his kingdom. To do that, He offers His love and His constancy in our lives.
The Lord Jesus wants us to live in the confident expectation that he will fulfill his promises to us and bring us into the fullness of his kingdom – a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
Each and every day, we should remember that. Each and every day, we must step out in that faith.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, help me to draw near to you with confidence and trust in your saving power and mercy. Free me from doubt and unbelief that I may approach you confidently and pray boldly with expectant faith. Let your kingdom come and may your will be done in me.”
Daily Note
Reaching out to Jesus and following him is not about physical sight alone. It is also about hope and faith. The blind man hoped in divine healing and knew it would come from the Messiah. It is no coincidence that he identified Jesus as Son of David. That was his messianic title.
Advent is about hope and faith in the Messiah’s coming and action among us. We must never lose hope in Jesus entering into our world and into our lives. Like the blind man. we have to trust that we are not waiting in vain.
