20251205 SEEING IN FAITH
05 December 2025, Friday, 1st Week in Advent
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.
SEEING IN FAITH
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ISAIAH 29:17-24; PS 27:1,4,13-14; MT 9:27-31]
When we look at the world today, we can be disheartened by what is going on. We see the horrendous wars in Ukraine and other countries, the cruel treatment of the innocent victims in Gaza, their starvation and deprivation of basic human needs and rights, as well as trade wars, sanctions, and tariffs aimed at making one’s country great again. On our domestic front, we might be struggling with financial commitments, our children’s education, finding suitable jobs, repairing marital relationships, raising difficult children, or managing our own ill health and that of our elderly. In such times, it is difficult to see the goodness of God.
This was the situation of the Israelites in today’s first reading. The prophet speaks of a radical transformation of Israel, when the land would become fertile again, the deaf hear, and the blind 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.” There will be a spiritual and physical restoration of Israel. It will be a new era of fruitfulness and peace as God humbles the proud and exalts the lowly. “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.” There will be justice for all and punishment for those who do evil. “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.”
All this will take place because of God’s intervention. He Himself will bring it about. It will not be due to human power or ingenuity but by God alone. By the work of His hand, Israel will be restored to its glory. God is the redeemer of Israel. “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.” All will come to be awed by the power and goodness of God.
But is this true in our lives? Do we see God intervening in our affairs? More often than not, we feel that God is not with us. We feel that God is far away and does not seem to heed our cries. Perhaps this is because we lack the faith needed to see His power at work. Faith requires us to hear and to see rightly. In the Gospel, two blind men could not see, but they could hear that Jesus was passing by. They must have heard about Him and what He was doing. People would have spoken about Jesus and testified to what He had done in their lives. Hearing, therefore, is the first step toward faith in Jesus. This was the case for the two blind men, who had heard inspiring testimonies and thus found their faith strengthened.
This is also true for us as we come to faith. We first need to hear about Jesus from those who know Him. This is why it is important not only to study the Word of God, but to read it with faith and conviction, believing that the Bible is inspired and that God is faithful to His Word. Praying with the Scriptures helps us gain trust and confidence in Jesus. But it is not only reading the Scriptures that provides us the engine for faith–there is also the sharing, testimonies, and preaching of those who believe. Words spoken with faith inspire faith. We need to hear the Word of God from those who have encountered His love and mercy. Their stories and personal reflections will give us the grace to open ourselves more readily to the love of God.
This explains why the two blind men walked together in faith. They needed each other for support. When we journey alone, we can easily become discouraged, lose hope, and feel lost. But when we journey with someone, we find strength, encouragement, and consolation. It is therefore helpful to have someone who can accompany us in faith–a friend, a confidant, and especially the Lord Himself. We need encouragement when we are down, unsure of ourselves, or unsure of God. Faith-filled companions help us grow, whereas friends who are purely secular cannot sustain us in moments of trial, for their answers remain rooted in this world alone. This is why belonging to a faith community matters. Unfortunately, many Catholics lack such a community. Even when they are in families, workplaces, or schools with many Catholics, they often do not share their faith. They speak about everything except their relationship with the Lord.
Jesus calls us to come close to Him. This explains why He did not stop along the road to speak to the blind men but instead led them into the house, where they could approach Him more personally. Jesus wants us to know Him, not at a distance but intimately. He does not perform miracles simply for display; He offers relationship. Ultimately, healing flows from relationship. The blind men called Him “Son of David,” a title used by others, hoping He would be the promised Messiah who could save them from Roman oppression. At that point, they still did not fully understand His identity, though they believed He could save them.
After preparing them, Jesus asked, “Do you believe I can do this?” They replied, “Sir, we do.” He touched their eyes and healed them only when they were ready. He sought from them a deliberate act of faith. When they professed it, He said, “Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.” And their sight was restored. Faith made their healing possible. This shows that faith is a necessary condition for healing. When Jesus was in Nazareth, His own townspeople did not believe in Him. As St Mark observes, “And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief” (Mk 6:5-6).
However, when we do not receive physical healing or our petitions answered in the manner we want, it may be that we still lack spiritual insight. Jesus used the word “see” to denote paying attention, perceiving, and discerning. What appears obvious is not always what is good for us. We must look deeper. Often, we fail to notice the quiet miracles happening within ordinary events, especially when people come to help us in times of need. Even when we remain sick, if we open our eyes, we may see God’s love reaching us through those who care for us with patience and kindness. Quite often, we look in the wrong places for God to answer our prayers.
There is more at stake than having our prayers answered. More importantly, we need emotional and spiritual healing as well. Physical health alone cannot make us happy in life. It is the peace and joy in our heart. This is why when our prayers do not get answered immediately, it is because God is inviting us to a deeper search for meaning and purpose. He wants us to look at life more holistically and not just be so focused by a part of it. Happiness is not getting what we want but seeing God’s blessings and love in our entire life and the people that He sends on our way. Indeed, as the psalmist says, “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? 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.” Being in the presence of God and knowing that He is with us in our journey in life gives us joy, security and peace.
More is at stake than simply having our prayers answered. More importantly, we need emotional and spiritual healing. Physical health alone cannot make us happy in life. What matters more is peace and joy within the heart. When our prayers are not answered immediately, God may be inviting us into a deeper search for meaning and purpose. He wants us to look at life more holistically and not be absorbed by a single concern. Happiness is not getting everything we want, but recognizing God’s blessings throughout our lives and in the people He sends to us. As the psalmist says, “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? 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.” Being in God’s presence and knowing that He accompanies us in our journey gives us joy, security and peace.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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