Daily Readings - Wed Dec 01 2021
Isaiah
6And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.7And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.9And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.10For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.
Matthew
29And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.30And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:31Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.32Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.33And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?34And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.35And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.36And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.37And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
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.