When I was a senior in college I went in for a physical before starting my first “real” job. The nurse had me do a simple eye exam. When I finished she said, “now with your glasses on.” I looked at her blankly and said, “I don’t have glasses.” She responded, “Oh, honey, you need glasses.” I got glasses just in time for my finals. My first day wearing them I went to a baseball game and I was mesmerized by how sitting on the sidelines I could see the numbers on the player’s uniforms, I saw blades of grass not just green space, and flowers in the distance were more than just blobs of color. I also found that reading was so much better – less eye strain meant I could read for hours without headaches or eye fatigue. My glasses made clear things that I never before even realized I could not see. Glasses gave me 20/20 vision. When our vision is clear it is easier to watch and be vigilant.
Although we see with our eyes, not all people are able to see clearly without assistance. I wear glasses, others wear contacts, and others have surgery to assist them in seeing more clearly. Then there are those whose eyes are compromised in ways that they “see” the world through their other senses.
In the gospels we hear stories of Jesus healing the blind, imagine these people as both physically blind and spiritually blind. Spiritual blindness prevents us from seeing what God wants us to see. When I read the scriptures it’s like putting on a new pair of glasses in order to look at my life more clearly. Often we want to see things through our own perspective rather than looking through the lens of the Gospels challenging us to change our ways. I believe that we all have blind spots, Jesus helps us to eliminate those blind spots as we grow closer to Him.
In the words of that wonderful nurse years ago, we must all surrender to the fact that “oh honey, you need glasses” if we are going to see our lives, and 2020, with the eyes of God.
ACTION:
Pray: Bless, then light your Advent wreath.
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
Reader:
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who lived in a land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing;
They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest,
as they exult when dividing the spoils. (Isaiah 9:1-2)
The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader:
Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Light one violet candle of the Advent wreath
Reader: “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.” Matthew 9:27-30.
All: “Lord, open my eyes so that I can see You in the world around me.”
Song: “Open My Eyes, Lord”
Leader: May Almighty God Bless us and watch over us this Advent season.
All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Connect: Take a picture of your Advent Wreath, or during your blessing and lighting of the wreath, then share it on our Facebook page!
Study: FORMED.org - see the image below for the “Pick of the Week.” Watch, Learn, and Listen your way through Advent!
Not signed up for FORMED yet? It’s easy to do - click on “sign in,” then “Sign up as a Parishioner,” and then type out Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
