Advertising is a big business. Almost everyone, maybe even anyone who has a product to sell or a service to offer will have to have recourse to some of advertisement to get some publicity.
But the most powerful and most convincing form of advertisement is none other than people's words.
For eg., if you want to buy a hand-phone or a laptop, just ask someone who is using one. You don't have to look at the papers to get some opinions.
So why did Jesus tell the two blind men who were cured, not to talk about what happened?
Maybe Jesus didn't want people to see Him simply as a wonder-worker.
That's because people generally focus on the sensational and the wonderful things rather than on the message.
Jesus also wanted people to follow Him and come to know Him for who He really is, and not just what He can do for them.
That's why before He cured the two blind men, He asked them a very profound question: Do you believe I can do this?
He wanted to know the faith of these two blind men. He wanted them to see more than just the sensational and the wonder.
We too, come before Jesus with our needs and our petitions. Do we really believe that Jesus will grant us our needs?
If we really do believe, then what is our anxiety and our worry?
The question is not what Jesus can do for us or what He can give us.
The question He is asking us is this: Do you believe I love you?
That can be the question for our Advent reflection and prayer.
May our prayers lead us to find the answer at Xmas.