My Advent and Christmas seasons in 2022 were about my mom as I, with my siblings, took care of her. She had terminal cancer. Her prayer was to reach Christmas and celebrate with all of us. And she did! She even reached the New Year. On the second day of 2023, she finally joined the Lord.

So last December was my first Christmas without my mom. It was a sentimental one, yet we celebrated with merriment, believing that Christmas brings families together—whether physically or spiritually. And even if you are alone, Christmas continues to bring comfort and consolation—together with the peace, joy, hope, faith, and love of the season.

Because Christmas is about Christ—about Jesus who makes beautiful things happen. 

He continues to ask, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” And I humbly reply, “Yes, Lord. I believe.” Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflect:

What do you believe about Christmas? What do you believe Jesus can still do to your life? Proclaim and declare it now.

Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of Advent and Christmas. Thank You for coming into the world and to my life. I proclaim and declare that You can and will still do wonderful things in me. I believe in Your most Holy Name. Amen.

Saint Nicholas, bishop, pray for us.

The Spirit works in mysterious ways. However, the day will come when our “eyes will be opened,” so to speak, and we will understand what the Spirit has been doing. This will be the Second Coming of Jesus, where we will see His true identity. 

¹⁷ 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! ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. ²⁰ For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, ²¹ those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim. ²² 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. ²³ 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. ²⁴ Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction. 

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

R: The Lord is my light and my salvation.

¹ 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) ⁴ 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) ¹³ I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 9:27-31

Faith is often a key factor in the healing miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. We are challenged to grow in faith and avoid complacency in our spiritual lives. Let us not presume that God will do what is necessary for us to function in the ways we have become accustomed to. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to disturb us in our comfortable life that we may continue to grow in holiness.

Gospel Acclamation 

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

²⁷ As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” ²⁸ 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. ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” ³⁰ And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” ³¹ But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

Read the Bible in one year! Read PHILIPPIANS 1 - 4 today.

“I can finally see your point!” We often use this expression to show that we have arrived at an understanding of what someone is trying to tell us. Gaining clarity of other people’s ideas takes time and requires a lot of patience. Today’s readings for Mass are all about the gift of sight. Isaiah says, “On that day . . . when the Messiah arrives . . . the eyes of the blind shall see” (v. 18). True indeed, Jesus accomplished this messianic prophecy when He healed, when He brought light to the two blind men.   

If we look closely, what Jesus did to the two is not simply another miracle nor just another proof of His divine power. It is also a profession of deep faith in Jesus as Messiah. It begins with these two blind men who were going after Jesus, calling after Him, begging Him in desperation: “Have compassion on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27). This messianic name, “Son of David,” spoke of their faith in Jesus. It echoed their faith in His healing power. Thus, Jesus posed to them this question: “Do you believe that I can do this?”   

Moreover, in other miracle accounts of healing in the Gospels, to be healed and to be saved by Jesus requires faith. This kind of faith is personal, not intellectual. One may know all about faith, all about who Jesus is, and pass every exam related to who He is, and still not be His follower. Faith in Jesus means: I believe in Him. I believe in His promises. I believe in His power over sin and death.   

If we look closely, there is more depth here than meets the eye because what we have is not just the restoration of the two blind men’s physical sight. They, too, have gained “in-sight” as to the identity of Jesus. They can really see. They can truly see who Jesus is. They have recognized Him as the Messiah. Fr. Rick Montañez, AA 

Reflection question:

Having seen the light, do you readily give testimony to the Good News?  

Lord, make us take seriously our baptismal responsibility to proclaim the Gospel both in word and deed. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________