According to Your Faith

Friday 2nd December 2022. Read Isaiah 29:17-24, Ps. 27:1,4,13-14, Matthew 9:27-31

“On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” (Isaiah 29:18)

Isaiah speaks of a time that the deaf shall hear and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. This prophecy of Isaiah is concretely fulfilled in our Gospel passage. It is interesting to note that all the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ were eventually fulfilled in his life, including those about his death.

We can place all our trust in Jesus because He is truly the Son of God, the Saviour of the World, the One who was born to take away our blindness, cure our sickness, feed our hungry stomachs, and protect us from oppressors and danger.

Two blind men cried out loudly to Jesus, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” Jesus did not respond to them until he entered a house and the two men followed him into the house.

Even when it seems as if God doesn’t care about your predicament, do not stop praying. Do not stop calling out to Jesus. Do not stop visiting the Blessed Sacrament. Do not stop reading your bible. Pray until something happens.

Jesus asked the two blind men: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Whenever you go on your knees to pray, picture God asking you this very question, and please answer it sincerely.

Was this question necessary? If these men didn’t have faith, would they have called out to Jesus in the first place? Would they have followed him into the house? Jesus needed to ask them because the truth is that it is not all those who cry and shout in prayer that really has faith. It is not all those who say “Lord, Lord” that will enter God’s kingdom.

The two blind men answered yes. Jesus then went on to say: “According to your faith, let it be done to you.” This is huge. Jesus seems to place their healing on the power of their faith. If they were lying about their faith, their eyes would have remained closed.

According to your faith implies if your faith is weak, you can’t get much. This is a principle of life. You can’t achieve anything without first believing it is possible. Today is “the tomorrow” you were expecting yesterday and your tomorrow is exactly what you believe today.

Life is hard. Nothing good comes easy. Bad things happen without warning. Life will always give you reasons to complain. Problems are never exhausted. But how are we to stay alive and win? Faith! Believe and keep believing. Prayer works. God cares.

Jesus warned them not to publicize this healing but the two blind men could not keep it to themselves. Jesus wants us to love him, worship Him as God and not approach him like a magician. Faith is not just about receiving from God, it is also about remaining steadfast when things are rough.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, deepen my faith in you. May my prayers never be in vain. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 1st week of Advent. Bible Study: Isaiah 29:17-24, Ps. 27:1,4,13-14, Matthew 9:27-31)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu