Second Sunday of Advent

And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

We all should pray for an increase in our ability to love. In addition, we need to pray for the knowledge and the perception to love wisely and well and to choose right over wrong. We need knowledge to understand what to think, say, and do to help others. We need the perception to recognize when and where we are needed. We need knowledge, perception, and love in order to follow the commandments and live holy and pure lives. When we have these three things, then we shall be fruitful in our faith and bear righteousness into the world. By doing this, we plant the seeds of love wherever we go, giving glory and praise to God and growing the faith of others.

Do we pray for love, knowledge and perception? How can we come to see what is truly of value in this world so that we might become pure and blameless? What can we do to increase in love and righteousness so that we can bear good fruits?

O Lord, increase our ability to love through knowledge and perception of your Divine Will.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Monday of Ordinary Time

“Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

The blind man addresses Jesus as the Son of David, a reference to his role as the Messiah. In response to the blind man’s request, Jesus heals him. This act of compassion leads the blind man to follow Jesus and give glory to God. It is the type of response that reminds us that whenever we have our prayers answered or succeed in life, we should always give God the thanks and praise He deserves for His role in our goods and successes. We, like the blind man, are afflicted with blindness, too. The darkness of sin covers our good judgment like a blindfold and we can wander for a very long time without knowing where we are going or remembering that there is a light out there trying to show us the way. However, we must cry out to Jesus to have pity on us and heal us of our sinful afflictions just as the blind man did so long ago. We can do this through the sacrament of reconciliation and after Jesus has opened our eyes to God’s goodness once again, we should follow Christ and give glory to God from that day forward and forevermore.

What are the things in our lives that are blinding us and keeping us from following Christ? Do we seek Jesus’ help in overcoming our interior darkness so that we can see God’s goodness once again? Do we seek reconciliation with God whenever we fall?

O Lord, grant us the sight of faith so that we might follow you where we need to go and give glory to God.

Amen.