Daily Readings - Wed Dec 06 2023

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 visions of God's providence and compassion. Isaiah 25:6-10a paints a vivid picture of a future feast on Mount Zion, where God will abolish death and wipe away every tear. This passage, written during a time of exile and hardship for the Israelites, offers hope of a messianic era where God's people will be comforted and restored. It speaks to the deep human longing for healing and joy in the face of suffering. In Matthew 15:29-37, we see this vision of God's abundance and care realized in the person of Jesus. After healing many who were blind, mute, and lame, Jesus feeds a vast crowd with just seven loaves and a few fish. This miracle, like the one in Isaiah, reveals God's desire to satisfy the deepest hungers of humanity—both physical and spiritual. Jesus' compassion and willingness to provide for those in need remind us that God's love is not abstract but concrete, meeting us in our most basic human needs. These readings invite us to reflect on how we encounter God's care in our own lives. Just as the crowds trusted Jesus enough to bring their sick and their hunger to him, we are called to trust in God's providence, even when resources seem scarce. The miracle of the loaves and fish also challenges us to share what we have, however little it may seem, so that others might experience God's abundance through us. Let us ask for the grace to see the world with the eyes of faith, trusting that God can bring life out of emptiness and hope out of despair.