The Blind Men of St. Matthew's Gospel

Homily for Friday of the First Week in Advent

Isaiah is frequently referred to as the “Messianic Prophet.” He is so named because his oracles reveal how to recognize the Messiah when he comes. In today’s passage from Isaiah, “the deaf shall hear… The blind shall see.”

When John the Baptist sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the one for whom they are waiting, Jesus simply tells them to go back to John and tell them what he has been doing. Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled in the actions that Jesus takes for those who place their faith in him.

Many of the assertions that are made in this passage are very similar to Mary’s song of praise in the Gospel of Luke. Both Isaiah and Saint Luke reveal the reversal of fortunes, a prominent theme in the Gospels, which will come about in the person of Jesus.

The Gospel text for today speaks of two blind men who encounter Jesus as he is passing by. This story is St. Matthew’s version of the blind Bartimaeus which appears in St. Mark’s Gospel. St. Matthew actually tells the story twice as well as making the story about two blind men rather than one. Not only does it appear in chapter nine of the Gospel, it also appears in chapter twenty. However, the stories differ in one essential point; namely, in St. Mark’s Gospel and in chapter twenty of St. Matthew’s Gospel, the blind man follows Jesus on the way. In St. Matthew’s Gospel, the blind men spread the news of their healing even after Jesus asks them not to tell anyone. Consequently, the second story is a calling story as well as a healing story.

In both St. Mark’s Gospel and St. Matthew’s Gospel, the disciples of Jesus failed to understand Jesus when he predicts his passion and death. They exhibit a kind of spiritual blindness, unable to see beyond Jesus’ power and unable to accept his contention that he will die at the hands of evil men.

Advent reminds us that the coming of the Messiah is spoken of in terms of light illuminating darkness and gloom. We join with the psalmist today as we pray, “The Lord is my light and my salvation… I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord.”