Daily Readings - Wed Dec 04 2024
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. 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.