Daily Readings - Wed Dec 01 2021
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 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.