6th December, 2013. Friday in the 1st Week of Advent

Isa. 29:17ff. A promise of good times, when deaf shall hear and blind shall see – and those who grumble will accept instruction.

Mt. 9:27ff. Cure of two blind men, when Jesus says: “According to your faith let it be done to you. ”

First Reading: Isaiah 29:17-24

Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest?

On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.

The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall cease to be; all those alert to do evil shall be cut off –

those who cause person to lose a lawsuit, who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate, and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right.

Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: No longer shall Jacob be ashamed, no longer shall his face grow pale.

For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord. ” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you. ” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this. ” But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.