Daily Readings - Wed Dec 02 2020
Isaiah
6And the Lord of hosts will cause all the peoples on this mountain to feast on fatness, to feast on wine, a fatness full of marrow, a purified wine7And he will cast down violently, on this mountain, the face of the chains, with which all peoples had been bound, and the net, with which all nations had been covered8He will violently cast down death forever. And the Lord God will take away the tears from every face, and he will take away the disgrace of his people from the entire earth. For the Lord has spoken it9And they will say in that day: "Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord! We have endured for him. We will exult and rejoice in his salvation.10For the hand of the Lord will rest upon this mountain. And Moab will be trampled under him, just as stubble is worn away by a wagon
Matthew
29And when Jesus had passed from there, he arrived beside the sea of Galilee. And ascending onto a mountain, he sat down there30And great multitudes came to him, having with them the mute, the blind, the lame, the disabled, and many others. And they cast them down at his feet, and he cured them31so much so that the crowds wondered, seeing the mute speaking, the lame walking, the blind seeing. And they magnified the God of Israel32And Jesus, calling together his disciples, said: "I have compassion on the crowds, because they have persevered with me now for three days, and they do not have anything to eat. And I am not willing to dismiss them, fasting, lest they faint along the way.33And the disciples said to him: "From where, then, in the desert, would we obtain enough bread to satisfy so a great multitude?34And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" But they said, "Seven, and a few little fish.35And he instructed the crowds to recline upon the ground36And taking the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks, he broke and gave to his disciples, and the disciples gave to the people37And they all ate and were satisfied. And, from what was left over of the fragments, they took up seven full baskets
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound visions of God's providence and compassion. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a messianic feast on a mountain, where God will abolish death and sorrow, bringing joy and salvation to His people. This passage, written during a time of hope for Israel's future, reflects the deep longing for a Messiah who would restore and redeem. It speaks of a time when God's people will rejoice, free from the burdens of suffering.
The Gospel from Matthew illustrates Jesus fulfilling this vision of a compassionate Messiah. Jesus heals the sick and feeds a multitude with minimal resources, demonstrating His divine power and care for both spiritual and physical needs. This miracle, with seven loaves and a few fish, shows that even our limited resources can be multiplied when entrusted to God, emphasizing faith and selflessness.
These readings remind us to trust in God's providence and to care for others. They call us to have faith, knowing that our efforts, though small, can lead to great things when guided by God. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's plan, show compassion to those in need, and recognize that He can transform our limitations into abundance. Let us embrace this vision of a loving God who provides and heals, inspiring us to live with faith and generosity.