In the Gospel of Matthew today we read,
he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened.
St. Matthew doesn't focus on healing, but on the opening of their eyes which in some ways may be more difficult.
None of us wants to think of ourselves as the one who needs to open their eyes. Often when we talk about someone needing to open their eyes what we really mean is, if their eyes were open, they would see thinks my way.
The gospel states it in passive voice: not "they opened their eyes" but "their eyes were opened' (by someone else). They can't open their own eyes, perhaps because they don't know their eyes are closed. If you were born blind, how would you know what it means to see? Blind is all you know unless someone explains the idea of sight. You wouldn't even realize you had something that needed healing.
The paradox of the 21st century is that the means of communication we have, the more isolated we have become.
As we come to the end of this first week of Advent, this first week of the new year, perhaps now is a good time for us to pray that God and those around us will help us to identify those areas of our lives in which we are "blind". And having the humility to admit that we are blind, then we pray as the men in the Gospel "Son of David, have pity on us!"
Then through faith our eyes can be opened and we can see clearly how to imitate Christ more fully each day.
