Mass Readings and Reflection: Friday, December 5, 2025

First Reading: (Isaiah 29:17-24)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 27)

Response: The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Alleluia:

R. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 9:27-31)

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Have mercy on us, Son of David.”

When Jesus entered the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said,
“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They answered, “Yes, Lord.”

Then he touched their eyes and said,
“According to your faith be it done unto you.”
And their eyes were opened.

Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread his fame throughout that district.

Reflection:

This is one powerful Gospel reading today. It teaches us that faith has many characteristics, but one of the most essential is perseverance. Genuine faith endures, waits, and refuses to be rushed. Faith and impatience cannot coexist. Anyone who believes must learn to wait on God, because faith is proven when we trust God even when nothing seems to be happening.

Abraham believed and waited many long years for Isaac. Israel believed and waited centuries for deliverance. Faith is not tested by how loudly we pray, but by how long we are willing to trust.

In today’s Gospel, two blind men cry out, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” But Jesus does not heal them immediately. He keeps walking. They follow Him, blind, slow, vulnerable, perhaps stumbling, perhaps guided by others, and yet they did not give up.

This detail is easy to overlook, but it reveals the true depth of their faith. They followed Jesus all the way to the house, even though Jesus gave no sign He would heal them. They could have thought:

• “Jesus is ignoring us.”

• “Maybe He doesn’t care about us.”

• “Maybe next time.when He feels good to do so.”

And we can add our own projections here. 

But no, they persevered. This is why Jesus later asks, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Their actions had already answered the question long before their mouths did.

Dear friends, late cooking doesn't mean sleeping hunger as we used to say back in the day. And delay is not denial. It is God testing, strengthening, and purifying our faith. Many of us give up too quickly especially in this day is mass impatience:

• You prayed for years and see no change. Done.

• You asked for healing and the illness remains. Done.

• You begged for breakthrough and doors stayed shut. Done.

Delay is not God’s rejection. Sometimes what we request is not His will. Sometimes the timing is not yet right. Sometimes the blessing requires that our faith mature first. Even think about the fact that if we get whatever we want right away, it could ruin us?

Even unanswered prayers are answered in God’s higher wisdom. Faith is trusting that what God does not give is because He knows what is best.

Let the two blind men teach us endurance. Do not stop following Jesus. Do not abandon your prayer. Do not allow discouragement to silence your faith. Keep walking, even blindly, even slowly, even painfully, until you reach the house where Jesus waits.

Delay is not denial. It is a test of faith. Can God test His own? 

God bless you 🙏 

Amen 

Pal Ronnie