Daily Readings - Wed Dec 02 2020
Isaiah
6On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.7And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.8He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.9It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."10For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.
Matthew
29Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.30And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them,31so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."33And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?"34And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."35And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground,36he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.37And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
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.