A reflection on the daily readings, for Friday of the First Week of Advent, by Father Perry.
Bob Dylan wrote the song: “The Times They Are A-Changin.”
The case could be made that he got his inspiration for this song reading the words of Isaiah.
Continuing his pattern of speaking about the future events to come and noting “on that day,” Isaiah speaks of events and happenings that would profoundly affect Israel — God’s people.
He speaks of justice and goodness, he proclaims that “the deaf will hear … and the eyes of the blind will see.”
He even speaks of Mount Lebanon, the snow-capped mountain covered with forest “a-changin” into an orchard; and not only that, an orchard so rich and plentiful and full of fruitfulness that the orchard will be considered by all as a forest.
But even more importantly and much deeper than that, the inner eyes of people would be opened to see God’s work in their midst.
The inner ears of the heart would be opened to hear God speak and from God all “would acquire understanding and receive instruction.”
+ The psalm sings of that same truth with clarity and unites the voices of the people as they sing out with one voice: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
Certainly people like Dylan and Isaiah have spoken to profound change that they can see “a-comin” and call all of us to reckon with it.
But it is in Jesus that change truly came, and it continues to come to us all each and every day that we dare to call upon his name and open ourselves to the grace and love and blessings that flow into and over us, as we look and see and listen and hear and come to know him deep within more and more.
The Gospels abound with the realization of the messianic prophecies being fulfilled in him.
Today is no exception, as not one but two blind men heard Jesus walk by, followed him, cried out to him, and were touched by his messianic hands — hands of power, hands of love.
The eyes of the blind were indeed opened and they saw.
And not only did they now see with their eyes, they saw who and what he was about — that Lord, that Holy One of God.
And even though Jesus sternly ordered them to keep their mouths absolutely quiet as to who Jesus was, they could not and would not be silenced.
Out of disobedience? Oh, no; I think not!
But rather out of awe and wonder and joy and faith and delight and witness and grace so profound that their lives were changed forever and ever, everyone simply had to know.
They became, so to speak, in their own way a living Gospel, and their testimony preached to all the wonders of the Lord.
As we see and hear and come to know the Lord, the Holy One of God ever more deeply in our hearts, don’t we do the same?
Are we not doing the same in the reading of these words?
And what, do you suppose, might be happening in our hearts right now?
Is it possible “the times and you/me/us — we are a-changin”?
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
