Daily Readings - Wed Dec 06 2017
Isaiah
6On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines.7On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;8he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.9In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."10The hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain; but Moab will be trampled under him as straw is trampled down in the manure.
Matthew
29Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.30Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.31The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.32Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."33His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"34"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."35He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.37They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s abundant love and care for His people. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful vision of a feast on Mount Zion, where God will wipe away tears, remove disgrace, and destroy death forever. This passage, written during a time of distress for the people of Israel, offers hope and assurance of a future where God will gather all nations to Himself, providing for their needs and ending suffering. It is a powerful reminder of God’s promise to save and restore His people.
In the Gospel, we see this promise unfolding in the life of Jesus. Matthew describes how Jesus, moved by compassion, feeds a great multitude with just seven loaves and a few fish. This miracle not only satisfies the physical hunger of the people but also reveals Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision. Just as God promised to provide for His people on Mount Zion, Jesus provides for those who come to Him, showing His divine power and care for both body and soul. The leftovers, filling seven baskets, symbolize the abundance of God’s grace and the completeness of His provision.
These readings call us to trust in God’s providence and to live with compassion and generosity. Like the disciples who doubted how they could feed such a large crowd, we often feel inadequate in the face of life’s challenges. Yet, Jesus shows us that even the smallest resources, when entrusted to Him, can accomplish great things. Let us ask for the faith to see God’s hand at work in our lives and to share His love with others, especially those in need. May we, like the people in today’s readings, exult in God’s salvation and rejoice in His abundant love.