Friday of the First Week of Advent

Saint Nicholas (d. middle of 4th century)
First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day
RB: 54 The Reception of Letters or Gifts
Mass: Is 29:17-24; Resp Ps 27; Mt 9:27-31

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

BEHOLD, OUR LORD SHALL COME WITH POWER; HE WILL ENLIGHTEN THE EYES OF HIS SERVANTS.

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

Welcome to the First Friday of the Month! Last night, I read in a short commentary a sentence which provided a context for today's Mass readings: "Faith is acknowledging the presence of Jesus who is always passing by" (Magnificat, December 2019). Then there is what Jesus said to the blind men in today's Gospel, something that I listened to in a new way. Jesus touched the eyes of the blind men and said, "Let is be done for you according to your faith" (Lk 9:29). Living and true God, increase our faith so that we acknowledge your presence in all those who pass our way this day. Then, "immersed in Jesus' newness, let us keep crying out his Holy Name in reverent, endless awe"!

OUT OF THE 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 OF ISRAEL.

(Is 29:18-19)

Prayer is the door of faith; prayer is medicine for the heart.
(Pope Francis, Twitter, December 5, 2019)

As we continue our Advent journey, we pray with the Pope's December Prayer Intention:

Every child who is marginalized, abused, abandoned, without schooling, or without medical care, is a cry that rises up to God.

In each of them is Christ, who came to our world as a defenseless child; it is Christ who looks at us through the eyes of each of these children.

Let us pray that every country decides to take necessary measures to make the future of children a priority, especially the future of children who are suffering today.

SAINT NICHOLAS, PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2019