 DAILY GOSPEL «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68
Friday, 03 December 2010
Friday of the First week of Advent
Today the Church celebrates : St. Francis Xavier, Priest (1506-1552) - Memorial
See commentary below or click here
Saint Symeon the New Theologian : Human blindness
Book of Isaiah 29:17-24.
But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! 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. The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; All who are alert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, Who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim. 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. 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. Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
Psalms 27:1.4.13-14.
Of David The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD'S house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD'S beauty, to visit his temple.
But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD'S goodness in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9:27-31.
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed (him), crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!" 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. Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day :
Saint Symeon the New Theologian (c.949-1022), Greek monk
Hymn 53 (cf. SC 196, p. 221f. rev.)
Human blindness
[Christ speaks:]
When I created Adam, I allowed him to see me
and thus be established in the dignity of the angels...
With his bodily eyes he beheld my whole creation
but with those of the mind
he looked on the face of me, his Creator.
He contemplated my glory
and spoke with me constantly.
But when, in defiance of my command,
he tasted of the tree,
then he became blind
and fell into the darkness of death...
But I took pity on him and came down from on high.
I who am completely invisible
Shared the visibility of his flesh,
And having received from the flesh a beginning, having become man,
I was seen by all.
So why did I readily take on all this?
Because this was the real reason
For which I had created Adam: to see me.
When he had been blinded
And, following him, all his descendants as well,
I could not bear that I myself should remain
In divine glory and abandon those...
I had created with my own hands.
But I became in everything like all men,
Bodily with those who are body,
And freely joined myself to them.
Now you see what my wish to be seen by men is like...
So how can you say I am hiding from you,
Not letting myself be seen?
In truth I shine out, but you, you fail to look at me.
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