Daily Readings - Wed Dec 01 2021
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 powerful images of God's providence and compassion. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future feast on a mountain where all peoples will gather to celebrate God's victory over sorrow and death. This messianic banquet symbolizes the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to His people, where tears will be wiped away and disgrace will be lifted. It is a vision of hope and restoration, reminding us that God’s plan for humanity is one of abundant life and joy.
In the Gospel, Matthew shows us Jesus living out this vision of compassion and abundance. Surrounded by crowds of people suffering from various afflictions, Jesus heals them all, demonstrating His divine power and mercy. When the people grow hungry, Jesus takes the little they have—seven loaves and a few fish—and multiplies it, feeding the entire crowd with plenty left over. This miracle is not just about providing physical food; it is a sign of the spiritual nourishment Jesus offers to all who come to Him.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God’s providence. Like the people in the Gospel, we often face situations where we feel we have “only seven loaves” to offer. But Jesus shows us that even the smallest resources, when given to Him, can be transformed into something abundant and life-giving. Let us learn to approach life with faith, trusting that God will provide for us in His time and in His way. May we, like the crowd, recognize the presence of God among us and rejoice in His salvation, both now and forever.