Friday of the First Week of Advent

Reading 1 Is 29:17-24

Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, 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.

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, please go here.

From: Isaiah 29:17-24

Against Those Who Hide from the Lord (Continuation)

[17] Is it not yet a very little while
until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
[18] In that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
[19] The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD,
and the poor among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
[20] For the ruthless shall come to naught and the scoffer cease,
and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
[21] who by a word make a man out to be an offender,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.

[22] Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham,
concerning the house of Jacob:
“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.
[23] For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
[24] And those who err in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

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Commentary:

29:15-24. The third “woe” marks the start of the third lamentation. First, it des-
cribes the ridiculous situation of someone who thinks he can escape divine judg-
ment (vv. 15-16). The simile of the clay and the potter (cf. the note on Jer 18:1-12)
shows how senseless it is to deny that man has a “Maker”, or to try to tell God
that he doesn’t know what he is doing. The prophet denounces the folly shown by
the people of Judah who have wandered away from God. In Romans 9:20-21, St
Paul will use the argument of v. 16 to show that God is free to do as he wishes
with nations and individuals (cf. 45:9).

However, things will change (vv. 17-24). The Lord is going to take action and
when he does, no one will be able to evade him: the deaf will hear, the blind will
see, there will be no more oppression or hardness of heart.

Cure of illnesses, specifically release from deafness and blindness (vv. 18-19; cf.
35:5), is a feature of messianic times; it will be the signal that the kingdom has
been reconstituted. St Matthew says that when Jesus was told about the ques-
tions asked by the disciples of John — was Jesus he who was to come, or should
they wait for another — he replied: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the
blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear,
and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And
blessed is he who takes no offense at me” (Mt 11:4-6; cf. Is 26:19; 35:5-6; 61:1-
3). Thus, by referring to these actions of his, Jesus is showing that he is the Mes-
siah, whose mission is to establish the Kingdom of God, just as Isaiah had pro-
phesied.

The last promise (vv 22-24) is deeply rooted in patriarchal tradition. The vocation of
Abraham (this is the only place in the Bible where he is described as “redeemed”)
and the story of Jacob who managed to survive all kinds of danger, form the foun-
dation for all hope of an enduring deliverance and salvation.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Matthew 9:27-31

The Curing of Two Blind Men. The Dumb Devil

[27] And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying
aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” [28] When he entered the house, the
blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able
to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” [29] Then he touched their eyes,
saying, “ According to your faith be it done to you.” [30] And their eyes were
opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” [31] But
they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

27-34. The evangelist shows people’s different reactions to miracles. Everyone
admits that God is at work in these events — everyone, that is, except the Phari-
sees who attribute them to the power of the devil. A pharisaical attitude so har-
dens a person’s heart that he becomes closed to any possibility of salvation.
The fact that the blind men recognize Jesus as the Messiah (they call him “Son
of David”: v. 27) may have exasperated the Pharisees. Despite Jesus’ sublime
teaching, despite his miracles, they remain entrenched in their opposition.

In the light of this episode it is easy enough to see that the paradox is true:
there are blind people who in fact see God and seers who see no trace of him.

30. Why did our Lord not want them to publicize the miracle? Because his plan
was to gradually manifest himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. He did not
want to anticipate events which would occur in their own good time; nor did he
want the crowd to start hailing him as Messiah King, because their notion of
messiah was a nationalistic, not a spiritual one. However, the crowd did in fact
proclaim him when he worked the miracles of the loaves and the fish (Jn 6:14-
15): “When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, ‘This is in-
deed the prophet who is to come into the world!’ Perceiving then that they were
about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again
to the hills by himself.”

31. St Jerome (cf. “Comm. on Matthew”, 9, 31) says that the blind men spread
the news of their cure, not out of disobedience to Jesus, but because it was the
only way they could find to express their gratitude.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 9
27.	And as Jesus passed from thence, there followed him two blind men crying out and saying, Have mercy on us, O Son of David.	Et transeunte inde Jesu, secuti sunt eum duo cæci, clamantes, et dicentes : Miserere nostri, fili David.	και παραγοντι εκειθεν τω ιησου ηκολουθησαν αυτω δυο τυφλοι κραζοντες και λεγοντες ελεησον ημας υιε δαυιδ
28.	And when he was come to the house, the blind men came to him. And Jesus saith to them, Do you believe, that I can do this unto you? They say to him, Yea, Lord.	Cum autem venisset domum, accesserunt ad eum cæci. Et dicit eis Jesus : Creditis quia hoc possum facere vobis ? Dicunt ei : Utique, Domine.	ελθοντι δε εις την οικιαν προσηλθον αυτω οι τυφλοι και λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους πιστευετε οτι δυναμαι τουτο ποιησαι λεγουσιν αυτω ναι κυριε
29.	Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done unto you.	Tunc tetigit oculos eorum, dicens : Secundum fidem vestram, fiat vobis.	τοτε ηψατο των οφθαλμων αυτων λεγων κατα την πιστιν υμων γενηθητω υμιν
30.	And their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know this.	Et aperti sunt oculi eorum : et comminatus est illis Jesus, dicens : Videte ne quis sciat.	και ανεωχθησαν αυτων οι οφθαλμοι και ενεβριμησατο αυτοις ο ιησους λεγων ορατε μηδεις γινωσκετω
31.	But they going out, spread his fame abroad in all that country.	Illi autem exeuntes, diffamaverunt eum in tota terra illa.	οι δε εξελθοντες διεφημισαν αυτον εν ολη τη γη εκεινη

27. And when Jesus departed, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Son of David, have mercy on us.
28. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to him, Yea, Lord.
29. Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it to you.
30. And their eyes were opened: and Jesus straightly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

JEROME; The miracles that had gone before of the ruler's daughter, and the woman with the issue of flood, are now followed by that of two blind men, that what death and disease had there witnessed, that blindness might now witness. And as Jesus passed thence, that is, from the ruler's house, there followed Him two blind men, crying, and saying, Have mercy on us, You Son of David.

CHRYS; Here is no small charge against the Jews, that these men, having lost their sight, yet believe by means of their hearing only; while they who had sight, would not believe the miracles that were done. Observe their eagerness; they do not simply Come to Him, but with crying, and asking for nothing but mercy; they call Him Son of David, because that seemed to be a name of honor.

REMIG; Rightly they call Him Son of David, because the Virgin Mary was of the line of David.

JEROME; Let Marcion and Manichaeus, and the other heretics who mangle the Old Testament, hear this, and learn that the Savior is called the Son of David; for if He was not born in the flesh, how is He the Son of David?

CHRYS; Observe that the Lord often times desired to be asked to heal, that none should think that He was eager to seize an occasion of display.

JEROME; Yet were they not healed by the way-side and in passing as they had thought to be; but when He was entered into the house, they come to Him; and first their faith is made proof of, that so they may receive the light of the true faith. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this?

CHRYS; Here again He teaches us to exclude the desire of fame; because there was a house nearby, He takes them there to heal them apart.

REMIG; He who was able to give sight to the blind, was not ignorant whether they believed; but He asked them, in order that the faith which they bore in their hearts, being confessed by their mouth might be made deserving of a higher reward, according to that of the Apostle, By the mouth confession is made into salvation.

CHRYS; And not for this reason only, but that He might make manifest that they were worthy of healing, and that none might object, that if mercy alone saved, then ought all to be saved. Therefore also He requires faith of them, that He may thereby raise their thoughts higher; they had called Him the Son of David, therefore He instructs them that they should think higher things of Him. Thus He does not say to them, Do you believe that I can ask the Father? But do you believe that I am able to do this? They say to him, Yea Lord. They call Him no more Son of David, but exalt Him higher, and confess His dominion. Then He lays His hand upon them; as it fellows, Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it to you. This He says confirming their faith, and testifying that what they had said were not words of flattery. Then follows the cure and their eyes were opened. And after this, His injunction that they should tell it to no man; and this is not a simple command, but with much earnestness, And Jesus straightly charged them, saying, See that no man know it but they went forth, and spread abroad the fame of hum through the whole country.

JEROME; The Lord from humility shunning the fame of His glorious works, gave them this charge, and they from gratitude cannot be silent respecting so great a benefit.

CHRYS; That He said to another man, Go, and proclaim the glory of God, is not contrary to this for what He would teach is, that we should hinder those that would commend us for ourselves. But when it is the Lord's glory that is to be praised, we ought not to forbid, but to promote it ourselves.

HILARY; Or He enjoins silence on the blind men, because to preach was the Apostles' office.

GREG; We must inquire how this is that the Almighty, whose will and power are coextensive, should have here willed that His excellent works should be hid in silence, and is yet preached against His will, as it were, by these men who have received their sight. It is only that He herein has left an example to His servants who follow Him, that they should desire their own good deeds to be hid, and that notwithstanding they should be made known against their will, that others may profit by their example. They should then be hid by design, and published of compulsion; their concealment is by our own watchfulness, their betrayal is for others' profit.

REMIG; Allegorically; By these two blind men are denoted the two nations of Jews and Gentiles, or the two nations of the Jewish race; for in the time of Roboam his kingdom was split into two parts. Out of both nations such as believed on Him Christ gave sight to in the house, by which is understood the Church; for without the unity of the Church no man can be saved. And they of the Jews who had believed the Lord's coming spread the knowledge thereof throughout the whole earth.

RABAN; The house of the ruler is the Synagogue which was ruled by Moses; the house of Jesus is the heavenly Jerusalem. As the Lord passed through this world and was returning to His own house, two blind men followed Him; that is, when the Gospel was preached by the Apostles, many of the Jews and Gentiles began to follow Him. But when He ascended into Heaven, then He entered His house, that is, into the confession of one faith which is in the Catholic Church, and in that they were enlightened.

Catena Aurea Matthew 9

December 6 - Memorial of Saint Nicholas, bishop

Saint Nicholas’ Story

The absence of the “hard facts” of history is not necessarily an obstacle to the popularity of saints, as the devotion to Saint Nicholas shows. Both the Eastern and Western Churches honor him, and it is claimed that after the Blessed Virgin, he is the saint most pictured by Christian artists. And yet historically, we can pinpoint only the fact that Nicholas was the fourth-century bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor.

As with many of the saints, however, we are able to capture the relationship which Nicholas had with God through the admiration which Christians have had for him—an admiration expressed in the colorful stories which have been told and retold through the centuries.

Perhaps the best-known story about Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who was unable to provide dowries for his three daughters of marriageable age. Rather than see them forced into prostitution, Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold through the poor man’s window on three separate occasions, thus enabling the daughters to be married. Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint’s feast. In the English-speaking countries, Saint Nicholas became, by a twist of the tongue, Santa Claus—further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by this holy bishop.

Reflection

The critical eye of modern history makes us take a deeper look at the legends surrounding Saint Nicholas. But perhaps we can utilize the lesson taught by his legendary charity, look deeper at our approach to material goods in the Christmas season, and seek ways to extend our sharing to those in real need.

Saint Nicholas is the Patron Saint of:

Bakers
Brides
Grooms
Children
Greece
Pawnbrokers
Travelers

franciscanmedia.org

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd

“New Every Day” e-book
Daily spiritual readings
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Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Violet.

First reading	Isaiah 29:17-24 ©

In a very short time, the deaf will hear and the eyes of the blind will see

The Lord says this:

In a short time, a very short time,

shall not Lebanon become fertile land

and fertile land turn into forest?

The deaf, that day,

will hear the words of a book

and, after shadow and darkness,

the eyes of the blind will see.

But the lowly will rejoice in the Lord even more

and the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel;

for tyrants shall be no more, and scoffers vanish,

and all be destroyed who are disposed to do evil:

those who gossip to incriminate others,

those who try at the gate to trip the arbitrator

and get the upright man’s case dismissed for groundless reasons.

Therefore the Lord speaks,

the God of the House of Jacob,

Abraham’s redeemer:

No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,

no more shall his face grow pale,

for he shall see what my hands have done in his midst,

he shall hold my name holy.

They will hallow the Holy One of Jacob,

stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Erring spirits will learn wisdom

and murmurers accept instruction.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14 ©

The Lord is my light and my help.

The Lord is my light and my help;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

before whom shall I shrink?

The Lord is my light and my help.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord,

all the days of my life,

to savour the sweetness of the Lord,

to behold his temple.

The Lord is my light and my help.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!

The Lord is my light and my help.

Gospel Acclamation	cf.Is45:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Send victory like a dew, you heavens,

and let the clouds rain it down.

Let the earth open and bring forth the saviour.

Alleluia!

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia!

Behold, our Lord will come with power

and will enlighten the eyes of his servants.

Alleluia!

Gospel	Matthew 9:27-31 ©

'Take care that no-one learns about this'

As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up with him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’ But when they had gone, they talked about him all over the countryside.

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December 6 2019

Friday of the First Week of Advent

Reading 1 Is 29:17-24

Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

Alleluia

Gospel Mt 9:27-31

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, please go here.

December 6 - Memorial of Saint Nicholas, bishop

Saint Nicholas’ Story

Reflection

Saint Nicholas is the Patron Saint of:

Readings at Mass

In a very short time, the deaf will hear and the eyes of the blind will see

'Take care that no-one learns about this'