The WORD in ADVENT - Living the Reign here and now #6

Open your eyes and truly see

First Friday in Advent: 7th December, 2018
Isaiah 29: 17-24; Matthew 9: 27-31

Living the Reign here and now, requires that we open our eyes and truly see, see what the Lord continuously does for us, see all the goodness that still rests around in spite of, and right in the midst of, all disastrous events that surround us. 

Continuing to speak of our troubles, I cannot forget that moment when I met a family in deep misery after a monstrous flood. They had their house filled with 3 feet water, rendered homeless; they stood with their two children on the street with knee high water flowing past them. I was wondering what sort of bitter experience they would harbour, after all  such scenes of misery and vulnerability. To my surprise they said, even before I spoke: God be praised, for so many things far worse from which we have been spared! They had some special eyes, I felt!

For, he shall see what my hands have done in his midst, says the first reading today. It is a special capacity to be able to see the hand of God in our daily experience. We should be given the vision, healed from our blindness and the Lord alone can enable us in this regard. All that we can do for ourselves, and for those whom we know to be totally blind in this regard, is to pray ardently to the Lord, "Lord that we may see!" Because only when we open our eyes and truly see, can we begin to live the Reign here and now!