(Please read this Scripture passage first, before the homily.)
I understand that forests are not known for their fruit trees. So, for a forest to become an orchard is like a blind person receiving sight or a deaf person hearing. It is also like a sinner being forgiven.
The story from Matthew finds an echo in a passage from the prophet Isaiah (29:17-24). In times to come, blind people will come to see. Their lives will change as a forest changes into an orchard.
In our day, we hear of orchards becoming forests or forests becoming devastated. Do global warming and the deforestation of our rain forests mean that the work of Jesus to fulfill the oracles of the prophets remains undone? I think we have to work against this.
Our task in our lifetime is to show forth in our lives that Christ’s work of healing continues. This means that we should treat people and the planet, our common home, with great respect. When we disrespect our environment, we treat people with disrespect. Anything that threatens the resources of nature impacts the poor and weak of society more than it does the rich and the strong.
It is the poor who tend to live in flood plains or in less safe housing or work at less safe jobs. We have seen an increase of hurricanes this year. The poor have felt the impact of these storms more than the wealthy. We have to take the ecology of the planet seriously.
When Jesus touched the eyes of the two bind persons, he opened up their lives to greater productivity and potential. They could work and not be dependent on begging. When we touch the lives of others, we should be giving them the resources, just as Jesus touched the blind persons and gave them their resources. We are constantly supposed to be continuing the work of Jesus here on earth. This means constantly fulfilling prophecies, constantly healing the blind and those with other handicaps, whether physical, mental, psychological, moral or financial.
During the first part of the Advent season, the Gospels show Jesus fulfilling prophecies and challenge us to continue this work of Jesus.