Matthew 9:27-31
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 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.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
Wherever Jesus went, there were always those crying out for help. The two blind men must have been alone when they were able to feel the Presence of the Lord and cry out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” because after they were healed, Jesus told them not to tell anyone about their physical healing. They knew He was there, just as we can feel His Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, yet are unable to see Him physically with our eyes.
Jesus engages them, saying that He could heal them and they both respond “Yes, Lord,” and their eyes were opened “according to [their] faith.” These blind me are the perfect analogy for the blindness we have from God. Through our being separated from Him because of our sin, we cannot see, and we find it difficult to believe. The physically blind know there is more to see, but can’t. At times, we also are blind to the Lord and have cried out “have pity on us,” but we acknowledge that there is more to see than what there is on earth. How much faith do we have? These men’s eyes were opened according to their complete faith in Jesus. Could our eyes be completely opened according to our faith, or would there still be some “blind spots,” places where we don’t have complete faith in God? We must believe so that we too can be healed according to our faith.
Finally, Jesus tells them sternly to “See that no one knows it.” Kinda ironic since He just gave them back their gift of sight. Yet, they still went out and told everyone that they were healed by Jesus. At the time, Jesus didn’t want to bring attention to Himself as a healer, because that would distract from the message He was sent to give, that He was the Son of Man. Do you find it difficult to hold in an answered prayer that you asked for in secret? Do you go out and brag about it or keep it to yourself to treasure in your heart? When Jesus answers a prayer that we asked of Him in secret, be sure to praise Him alone and not give glory to yourself for your secretly answered prayers.
Pray:
Sweet Jesus, please give me the gift of sight, to be able to see as you see in this world. Increase my faith during Advent so that I will be able to see the Lord. I give all the glory to your Father, for all the answered prayers given to me in secret. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.