Daily Readings - Wed Dec 04 2024
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 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.