Homily: December 5, 2025, Friday of the First Week of Advent

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 “Do you believe that I can do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.

We often place trust in people based on our experience with them, or simply because we need them to take on some tasks and responsibilities, we choose to trust them.

Many times, when priests receive new assignments from the bishop, we would respond, “I don’t think I can do this.” And what would the bishop say?

“Yes, you can.”

My nieces and nephews would do the same. When they need a favor from me, they would be so encouraging and affirming, “Uncle, you can do it… don’t say no!”

Jesus, however, is different.

When Jesus asked the blind men, “Do you believe that I can do this?”, He was not teasing them, nor testing them. He was sincerely inviting them to be intentional in their faith in Him. He was inviting them to trust in His divine power.

These men were blind and had never seen Jesus. But they had heard about Him. In their blindness, they would have imagined whatever they have heard. Their imagination of His compassion, His miracles and His love could have been so amazing and real, thus they believed Him.

Their greetings already showed their faith. Addressing Him “Son of David”, it showed that they recognized Him as the promised Messiah, the heir of Israel’s greatest king. They believed without seeing with their eyes, because they have seen in their hearts.

As St. Paul tells us: “Faith comes through hearing.”

Since they could not see, they relied even more on their hearing, and that was enough to bring them to Jesus with confidence. We also need to hear more preaching and proclamation of the Holy Word, so that we are familiar with the ‘voice’ of Jesus.

The more familiar we are with what Jesus did and taught, the more we will believe.

And like the blind men, we must learn to pray and say: “Jesus can do this.”  Jesus, increase our faith in You.

Amen.


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