Daily Readings - Wed Dec 04 2024
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 visions of God's providence and compassion. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future feast on Mount Zion, where God will remove sorrow and death, offering abundant life to all people. This passage, written during a time of hardship for Israel, serves as a beacon of hope, promising that God will ultimately triumph over suffering and restore His people.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this vision with a narrative of Jesus feeding a multitude of 4000 with just seven loaves and a few fish. This miracle underscores Jesus' compassion and divine power, demonstrating that God's provision is not just a future hope but a present reality. Both readings highlight God's desire to nourish His people, whether through spiritual or physical sustenance.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's providence and to embrace compassion. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves, our resources, though limited, can be used by God to make a significant impact when shared with others. Let us approach life with faith, gratitude, and a willingness to serve, recognizing that God's presence and provision are always available to us.